This was taken on such a nice day before the temp started to drastically fall, I asked Jomar to walk with me to the train station next to my place for a mini shoot because I was wearing a really cool outfit. Thinking back on my younger years, I was constantly an awkward kid. I was always at the sidelines, and desperately wanted to belong. I always wished that if I were to leave this world, I'd like to leave at least a small stamp on it. I wanted the Hollywood hunk bf, a great job I'll brag about to everyone, and host an annual New Year's Eve party at my penthouse in Manhattan. None of those happened to me, but I know now that happiness does not lie on these temporal things. It's in finding beauty wherever you are at life, and being thankful for the big and small blessings. As I giggled at my bf squatting so awkwardly so he can take a nice shot of me in a soon-to-become fave outfit, I mentally ticked off all the things that were perfect in that moment. I smiled. *click*
While browsing through my Facebook wall, I came across a post by a young friend of mine about her role model, Jackie Francois. Having never heard of her name before, I did a quick Google search and learned that blogs via her website jackiefrancois.com
A singer/songwriter and speaker, Jackie also blogs about different issues that are connected with her Catholic faith. If you're a young lady as well, I highly recommend her blog as it deals with a lot of issues that I had been blessed to have discussed about in my own church group, Youth For Christ, when I was growing up. Her blog is very insightful, witty and not condescending at all, and is very helpful especially if you're searching for answers to sensitive questions. With the month of November looming near, the topic of overtly sexy Halloween costumes is trending once more, and I find her and Leah Darrow's insight on the topic to be respectful and guided by the much-loved and applauded Theology of the Body teaching by Blessed John Paul II. Check it out here :)
I don't really celebrate Halloween (except of course if I have a really cool, geeky idea for a costume), but I'm curious as to what you're planning to wear that night! Tell me what it is in the comments section :)
I have absolutely no idea when my obsession with cobalt/cerulean blue started, but I just recently added a new item to that collection: the pleather moto jacket from Forever 21 as seen on the model below. I can already tell it will be worn when I'm feeling ecstatic or when I feel blue *hehehe*. What is it about this hue that makes it stand out? Does it evoke images of the seaside, or does it remind one of royalty? Either way, it is such a lovely color, and goes well with most things. Or maybe that's just a lie I keep telling myself so I have an excuse to wear my blue Warby Parker glasses everyday? ;) How about you, is it a yay or nay for this hue of blue? (yes, I made them rhyme hehehe)
Yes, that beautiful black boot below is from UGG Australia. After shunning their bulky, pricey, hairless Chewbacca feet-shaped boots (known for adorning and warming up the toes of college girls in their matching North Face jackets, skinnies/black tights, and a steaming cup of Starbucks coffee in one hand and iPhone in another; no offense to Chewbacca, and to those said girls because those boots are indeed very warm), I just learned of their newer, sleeker, classier styles like the Ophira shown below. But the price tag is still too high for my median salary, and so I turn to hours of swimming through the Clearance section of my beloved DSW, Nordstrom Rack and Rugged Warehouse in the hopes of finding a similar pair. My wallet stops shivering from fear, and my credit cards are safe. Given a gift card though (the Polyvore creation below is my entry to their contest, which you can join here: Live Your Moment: UGG Contest) I'll happily buy the Elsa, which looks warm, comfy and very much snow-proof (although it looks more like something that Anna would wear hehehe). In the meantime, I'll happily wait for the weather to cool down a bit more until I can finally start wearing the $30 pair of camel brown leather boots by Naturalizer that I scored from Rugged Warehouse (which normally retails at $200).
I've been a fan of Mr. A-Z ever since his tongue-twisting song "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" hit the airwaves in the Philippines. My older brother and I saved up enough money to buy his CD, and soon enough I had a thick printout of lyrics to all of his songs, so I can sing the anytime and anywhere I wanted. He's one of the artists whom I can see supporting until the end of time, based on his track record of churning out well-written, timeless songs that latch onto your heart like "Lucky", "I'm Yours" and "I Won't Give Up". Imagine my delight when I first watched him live - I think my friend Dette had to pinch me and pick up my jaw from the floor several times in order to convince me that I wasn't dreaming. Jason sounds so much better live, not because he sounds horrible in his studio recordings, but because you can feel his warmth and sincerity radiate throughout the entire concert venue. There is just an authenticity he brings with his guitar and soothing vocals that makes him so dang likable as a musician, one can't help but to feel like he's either singing to you or with you. Which is why, ever since I've lived here in the USA, I've tried to catch all of his shows because it really is worth it. I was thisclose to buying tickets to his upcoming concert, but due to a misunderstanding of the terms by Ticketmaster I was unable to and I am currently waiting (not in vain, I hope) for the prices to drop to near-normal in re-seller sites.
With Toca in 2011
Norfolk, VA concert in 2013
Speaking of which, my former roomies and I drove all the way to Norfolk, VA (for 3 hours!) to watch him, and we were lucky enough to snag tickets near the front row. It was an acoustic set, and he had this great all-women band as his opening act; later on they went to play songs together. Imagine my surprise when he announced that he might be touring with them soon. The L.A. based rock-folk band, called Raining Jane, has been together since forever. (Mona, Jason's awesome drummer/sidekick from his previous tour and a member of Raining Jane, along with Caroline from The Corrs inspire me to be better with my djembe skills). Their established group dynamic probably rubbed off on Jason, because his songs from their new album, Yes!, makes one feel like they're wrapped in a warm, fuzzy blanket, similar to how strong, time-tested friendship should feel. Thank goodness they did not go through with making it just a side project, and that they were confident enough to launch it as a full-blown album! I'm so happy for them and for the added exposure to their group, but of course I'm crossing my fingers that this won't be their last collaboration. Ok, now on to the songs! (I'm no longer putting this album on shuffle, because they're meant to be listened to in the order that they appear on the album. You'll soon understand why.)
1. Rise: An instrumental prologue to the next song. It feels like the musical counterpart of the sun slowly rising in the wee hours of the morning.
2. Love Someone: In the same rank as I'm Yours and I Won't Give up, this song is just lovely all around. I won't be surprised if this will be (hopefully not over) used in weddings/engagements in the near future. It is very mellow and a little less syrupy. I always sigh (in a good way) when I listen to this song. With lyrics like:
"When you love someone Your heartbeat beats so loud When you love someone Your feet can't feel the ground
Shining stars all seem To congregate around your face When you love someone It comes back to you"
you'll probably sigh too, am I right? ;)
3. Hello, You Beautiful Thing: Sunny and bright all over, this will make you smile at your reflection in the morning. Because yes, you are a beautiful thing :)
4. Long Drive: Recommended when you're on a long drive with your significant other. Butterflies in your stomach, guaranteed. This makes you remember how fleeting life is, and how we should cherish each precious moment with our loved ones. I love how it starts off slow but not dragging, then the tempo rises like when you're revving the engine (equivalent to when you look over to your SO and in that moment you just appreciate so much his/her presence in your life), then slows down again. They actually made a short movie/music video composed of this song and the two previous songs, which centers on a couple's life together. Watch it below:
5. Everywhere: I don't know how Jason Mraz makes a stalker-ish song into something tender, but he does it with such finesse it's a little scary. Hahaha. Maybe it's because the feeling seems mutual.
6. Best Friend: A lovely, earnest ballad dedicated to best friends/lovers. It might sound cheesy at first listen, but soon enough you'll find yourself thinking of your loved one while singing along.
"Thank you for all of your trust
Thank you for not giving upThank you for holding my handI've always known where you stand"
7. Quiet: Another love song, this time with a softer and smoother sound.
"Heartbeats rise, heartbeats fall Will you be my constant through it all?
I will hold your hand and watch the world spin idly around this life we're in Oh yeah everything goes quiet when it's you I'm with"
8. Out Of My Hands: With a laid-back reggae vibe, this song reminds us that nothing is perfect, even relationships (although of course at the end of the day, it's still up to the two of you to work things out. After all, real love is not merely about having feelings but is a constant decision).
9. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday: Originally performed by G.C. Cameron in the film "Cooley High" and popularized in 1991 by Boyz II Men, Jason and Raining Jane's cover seems lighter and more sweet than sad, but nonetheless they are still able to convey how deeply we get affected by people leaving. Through all of these renditions, this song never fails to remind us to make the most out of every moment with people that we love the most.
10. 3 Things: Highly recommended for when you feel down, it is full of positive vibes all around. It's a singing how-to without feeling preachy - the ukulele-infused melody definitely helps a lot in not letting it sound campy.
"Things are looking up
I know above the clouds the sun is shining Things are looking up Love is still the answer I'm relying on Three little things"
11. You Can Rely On Me: Rather self-explanatory :)
12. Back To The Earth: Here's a little bit of trivia for you: Jason has farming in his blood - his song "Frank D Fixer" from his previous album was written as a tribute to his grandfather Frank Mraz, who had a small farm in his backyard and who also fixed farming equipment for a living. And after years of dreaming/singing about it, Jason now operates an organic avocado farm in San Diego, and sells his produce to a local Chipotle. This song, beyond the upbeat melody, the cute do-do-do start and the infectious end (where everyone claps along and sings in a cappella) is a statement on the importance of sustainable agriculture (and you can start by having your own backyard garden!). I have yet to check if I inherited my father's green thumb, but when I do get the space I'll start off with a herb garden :) Click here to read more about MESA (Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture), an organization that Mr. Mraz supports.
13. A World With You: The song starts off slow, with a guitar rift borrowed from Norwegian Wood by the Beatles. Accompanied by Becky's sitar, Mona's drums, Mai's cello and Chaska's piano, the seemingly simple lyrics blend into a sumptuous song sung between lovers. It's one of his best, hidden songs and I'm sure it will be loved by fans all around the world.
14. Shine: This mesmerizing, ethereal song is the perfect ending to an uplifting album. Thank you for shining your light on us through this album, Jason Mraz and Raining Jane, and may we always remember to shine our light on others as well. And of course, thank you to our great God for blessing these wonderful musicians with their multitude of talents and for guiding them into collaborating on this album. May this inspire you to say a resounding "YES!" to life as well.
Easter is a beautiful celebration of life, love and salvation. Thus I decided to honor this holy day by making a zesty, tasty Lemon Bundt Cake and a huge pan of Asian Noodle Salad. We also had lovely Spring weather so I was finally able to wear this beaut of a dress from H&M which I bought eons ago :)
The first time I heard of the bundt cake was from the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Here's the hilarious clip to refresh your memory:
Bundt cakes are named so because of the pan they're baked in, which characteristically has a hole/tube in the middle (this provides for a more even heat distribution). They're easier to divide, and everyone will have an equal amount of frosting area/slice! Hurrah! Although I am warning you, if you slather a thick type of frosting on top, it will look like a giant doughnut. More on that in the next post ;)
Alas, dear reader, I forgot which recipe I used, so I'm posting links to similar ones instead. Here's the cake I made :) (so good, you have to try it!)
"Lemme At It" Lemon Bundt Cake
I sprinkled gold sugar and lemon zest on top of the lemon-flavored frosting for a touch of whimsy :)
I first had this when my Ma took home some leftovers from an Asian-themed lunch party that my little bro had at his old school. It was love at first bite, I can tell you that - I'm a huge fan of noodles, sesame oil and veggies, and this was a wicked combination of those three! I decided to try out the promising "Dang Cold Asian Noodle Salad" recipe by Guy Fieri from the show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" (where he samples food from mom-and-pop places in the ol' US of A). What I love about this dish is that it is so easy to prepare! Soba noodles (made with buckwheat flour) take just 6 minutes to cook, and you basically just mix the noodles with the sauce and veggies. The End. Here it is paired with a drumstick from Bon Chon:
That's all for now, my bed is telling me that it's time to catch some Zzz's! I hope I dream of oodles of bowls of noodles and plates of lemony bundt goodness *sigh*
Ta-ta for now and God bless you!
Special thanks to Jomar for being my sous-chef, you were sous-perb!
Good day, lovely ladies! Even though it is snowing outside (although thankfully, the weather forecast changed from 9-12 inches to a mere 1-3 inches, whew we really dodged a big one!) I can't help but dream of Spring and all the beautiful things it promises. I'll be seeing my Ma and lil bro again soon, cherry blossoms will bloom and grace us with their presence for a week, and of course everyone's excited of the warmer weather we're going to have ^_^ Can you tell I love Spring? Heehee. Below are some pretty items I selected from Forever 21 to help us welcome Spring 2014 <3
