SELFIE ART WORKSHOP @ LOKAL

I visited and wrote about LOKAL in February.  I fell in love with the place, because it has an upbeat, quirky and artistic vibe into it.  I was really amazed with artworks -- on the wall, on shirts, on lamps -- practically on everything present in Lokal.  The store breathes art.  It is sustained by art.  You simply know that the owners love art.

Here's a background of LOKAL 

Last June 11, I was again invited by Connie Macatuno, owner of LOKAL for an afternoon of Selfie Art Workshop.  My first reaction... whoa?  Really?  Me?  Drawing?  I swear I don't have a single artistic bone in my body.  All I can manage to draw, all my life, are stick figures hahahaha!  Give me the damn computer and I can be a script machine.... but drawing?  Bleh!

    THE STAGE IS ALL SET FOR AN AFTERNOON OF ART.  OBVIOUSLY, MY WORKSTATION IS THE ONE WITH THE PLATE AND SPOON HAHAHAHA!

AWESOME NEW BAND: LET GRAVITY

FACT:  I love listening to music.... especially when I write scripts.  And I am a big fan of OPM.  The easy listening love songs of the Apo Hiking Society in the late 80's;  the relatable lyrics of Sugarfree and Hungry Young Poets (later on became Barbie's cradle)  in
the late 90's... And oh, I better stop mentioning my musical influences, it reveals so much about my age... toinks!  

There are actually 2 things that I look for in my choice of music --- 

      1)  meaningful, relatable lyrics.  Am a firm believer of "when you are happy, you enjoy 
           the song.... when you are sad, you understand the lyrics.... as if the singer is 
           communicating with you

      2)  melody that you can sing or even hum to, even if you heard it for the very first time.  

HAPPY HOME SOLUTIONS

My family, on my mother's side, has asthma history. Although I have unconfirmed asthma, I am terribly allergic to dust, paint and some cleaning materials.  Exposure to these allergens trigger runny nose, sneezing and red eyes. 

So when I  was invited to this event "Happy Home Solutions"  that featured the Sharp Pharmacluster Products, I was excited.  I want to know more about the products, if it can bring relief to my allergies....

MY LA MESA ECO-PARK EXPERIENCE

Do you love watching teleseryes?  If yes, then you might have heard of the fictional strawberry farm "Sitio La Presa".   Where the love of Agnes (Liza Soberano)  and Xander (Enrique GIl) blossomed.  

But in reality, there is no Sitio La Presa.  The real name of the beautiful location is Sitio Pungayan, in Mt. Kabuyao, Tuba Benguet.  And because of the teleserye's popularity, Sitio Pungayan now is flocked by tourists.  As many as 25 vans a day!  Whoa!  

PAPER TOWEL GERMINATION

Imagine if you can grow your own food, in your own backyard or even in pots and containers.... then you will be able to eliminate the problem of buying expensive veggies and fruits;  You will never ever stress yourself, not knowing if your green supplies have been treated with pesticides;  and its really just a happy feeling to have a constant supply of healthy stuffs, within your reach!

That is why I love my small organic garden.  

Hmm..... I can hear all the pessimists out there saying "oh, you can grow your own food because you have a green thumb"!   Believe me, before I got into this, all I can grow were monggos.... from the school's cotyledon project :)

THE DAY I MET NATIONAL ARTIST BENCAB

When most people or at least the people that I know, go gaga when meeting celebrities.... I am of different breed.  I go "super kilig" when I meet national artists.  So when my boy graduated from Raya School in 2013, I had the perfect opportunity to have my picture taken with Mr. Virgilio "RioAlma" Almario -- National Artist for Literature.   He is actually the father of teacher Ani Almario, directress of Raya School.

Fast forward to 2016... I was invited to a Baguio Bloggers Getaway, and when I learned that the Bencab Museum was actually part of our 3-day trip --- I was so excited.  I remembered waking up very early that day, May 18, very eager to visit the museum in Asin Road.  But eagerness turned to excitement  (and also "kilig")  when I saw that Benedicto "Bencab"  Cabrera -- National Artist for Visual Arts, was actually there in the museum that day.  I was..... oh yes, starstuck, the best word to describe the feeling!

BACKPACK SQUAD: QUICK BAGUIO ESCAPADE

With the cool weather, scenic views, and impressive flora collection, Baguio City is still the unidisputed summer destination of the Filipinos.

The BACKPACK SQUAD had a quick Baguio 3-day getaway in 2012.  Good thing I was able to disappear for a while in the office  (hey!  don't judge me. I have an open sked at that time, and according to the written schedule for the week, I wasn't assigned to any work, so why not?  Am just seizing the moment hahaha!)  But on my 2nd night in Baguio, I was being asked to report for a shift, simply because one story editor can't make it to his sked. Bleh!!!  How am I supposed to make it to work, when I am 5-6 hours away from Manila.  I just said, "sorry, I am in Baguio right now.  Can you just find another pinch hitter?"  Oh well, that was my life 6 years ago... and I am glad, that chapter in my hectic life was over. Now I can just hop on a bus, book a ticket, and bring the entire BACKPACK SQUAD to anywhere!  Exciting eh?   :)

Back to my Baguio story.....  

We had to schedule this quick vacation, because a cousin, Ate Levy from Sydney was staying with us. And Baguio seems to be the most "workable" getaway, for some bonding time.

DAY 1

Left Quezon City at around 5am.  Blessed to have reached Pampanga to see the majestic sunrise at  Mt. Arayat.  

4 hours after, we were so happy to reach the Lion's head along Kennon Road. Too funny that I can't get a decent shot of the kids without other people popping into my frame   :)

FINALLY, NO PHOTOBOMBERS!

Reached Baguio around 10am so we decided to explore the City of Pines right away.

NAMASTE at PORTA VAGA BLDG SESSION ROAD

IKEA CURTAIN ROD INSTALLED AT LAST!

throwback post

When we built the house in 2008-09, we were thrilled with the idea of high ceiling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Fast forward to 2013, we realized that there were challenges that comes with the "dream corner glass window".    First, it was a huge challenge keeping it clean hahaha.  Second, we survived doing the DIY curtains of all the windows in the living room -- but how about this corner window;  how can we install the curtains? 

Me and my addiction to ikea introduced me to this curtain rod system called KVARTAL.   With its silver-matte finish, I knew it wil be ideal for our all-white living room.

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY.... GOLDILOCKS!

My birthdays when I was still a kid will never be complete without a Goldilocks birthday cake.  Now, as a mom of two wonderful teens.... I look back on how Goldilocks has been a part of our everyday lives.... 

KIDS INSIDE THE PBB SPOTTING ROOM, 2012