How did Halloween start exactly? This once a year festivity which involves dressing up (as ghouls, witches, etc.), eating toffee apples, going trick-or-treating is definitely interesting and a bit scary if I may say so (haha).
In the Philippines, Halloween is not widely celebrated. The main focus there is to go to cemeteries and pay our departed loved ones a visit. In the recent years however, halloween costume parties there are growing in numbers.
In whatever way we celebrate it, we do have one thing in common – the scary aspect (horror documentaries and all things bloody). This year’s Halloween for me is different but fun as well 
History (A quick Background Overview; an excerpt from Ken C. Erickson and Patricia Sunderland’s Article)
Halloween is a very popular annual celebration infused with it’s own set of recognizable symbols, stories and rituals. In 731 A.D., November 1 was declared All Saints’ Day (All Hallows Day). October 31 thus became All Hallows Eve, in time shortened to “Halloween.” Even with the encouragement of activities such as masquerading pageants of saints and the further, complicating step of adding Nov. 2 as All Souls Day to the church calendar after the year 1000, some “non-Christian” elements survive in Halloween.
The quintessential symbols of Halloween fall into three major categories. Symbols of death include graveyards, ghosts, skeletons, haunted houses. Symbols of evil and misfortune are witches, goblins, black cats. Symbols of harvest are pumpkins, scarecrows, corn shocks and candy corn.
The first two categories tap deep, irresolvable, pan-human dilemmas. Ways of dealing with and symbolizing death and evil are represented in some of the earliest archaeological remains of human ritual activity. One traditional means of facing the reality of death is to view it as a transition and to continue a relationship with the dead.
Scary Pictures (Please be warned that these set of pictures are bloody and might make you squeamish, they make my insides flinch too! They were pretty scary! These were taken during a recent event to gather zombies and the like for Michael Jackson’s Thriller commemoration.)
Yup, I look like a retard but it’s all good. (Haha )
Trick or treating and Cupcakes (I didn’t participate in the trick or treat part per se. Ate Tatie and I were part of the “control group” for the kiddies. Yup, we are a couple of muscular girls. Haha. The cupcake contest was super fun as well – I love cupcakes. Ate Tatie and my cupcake won as well! It was sheer genius – the cupcake! )
This is Imee’s cupcake.
The entries.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Have fun and be safe
P.S. Here I am! By the way, I didn’t eat some of the loot (candies) since I had a sore throat. But that is definitely not a reason to not put a smile on one’s face.
P.P.S. Good luck, Mr. Wonderful! You’ll do great
(Photo Credits – Paula Cañete)
Yesterday was a good day. I even reckon it was a great day.
It didn’t particularly start off like it was gonna be something that would conjure significant memories but it slowly made its transition. I wasn’t able to wake up really early and by the time we did leave, it was raining and the day had a gloomy feel about it. When we got off the train, things were starting to turn around – we were getting excited, we were chatting up a gazillion words per millisecond (nerdy look insert here), I was snapping pictures away and the rain made way for the sun to say hello (hang around) until what was left of the day was up.
Spending time with Ate Tatie, my sister, is simply priceless. We got to catch up, discuss things and store up on memories we can reminisce later on. Our “amazing adventure” or day together was complimented with a perfect meal in my opinion. With a love affair with food, the waiter definitely asked a couple of times if we could finished all the stuff we ordered or if we were sure if it is a wise thing to do – ordering all those dishes (haha). These tiny girls who have big storage compartments for stomachs. Tsk. (haha)
Happy Little Girl
We gobbled all of it up and chatted all throughout the meal until the last piece of strawberry and pancake. It was a very good moment. Their chicken caesar is the best I’ve tried so far and the ribs were cooked just right and were quite tender (the perfect example of a good barbecue rib dish). The dessert dish was quite luscious – coined as Devil’s Delight, it consists of chocolate pancakes, strawberries, cream, chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce drizzled all over. I know – I love food!
We looked for the waiter (he is Polish by the way) to sort of show him the empty shiny plates that once held food – we were a couple of smug girls. (Haha. I kid.)
P.S. I love you, Ate Tatie! Looking forward to more adventures in the future. On a side note, a couple of moi shots below.
“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
~Anthony J. D’Angelo
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
(Photo Credit – Paula Cañete)
A snog, you say.
As what they mentioned, “Snog isn’t a miracle, it’s just delicious pure frozen yoghurt”. Yup, this post is about yoghurt (just a bit) and interiors – sounds great, things that I love all in one post! Yey! (haha)
Snog emphasizes their dedication in providing the healthiest frozen yoghurt. Their blend is a mixture of organic skimmed milk, and fresh non-fat organic yoghurt (with probiotics).
Nom, nom, nom! I love frozen yoghurt – definitely a healthier alternative to frozen treats but has to be moderated just the same. In case you are wondering about the yoghurt above and their names – Chocolate Snog, Green Tea Snog and and Natural Snog respectively.
Snog shops feature really cute interiors – definitely whimsical and they have the playful/fantasy aspect. Check out the pictures below.
Hello Everyone!
I am very happy to be able to write a post once again – and this time from another location too! Yey! I have some catching up to do (blog-wise). I got here (new location) last sunday and things have been moving in a fast pace. I had some settling in to do as well (catching up on sleep because jet lag wore me out in a sense). More importantly, I miss Georgia a great, great deal 
Although I have things to attend to here (serious stuff), I am also here to have fun so I have to come up with a way to concoct a good balance which will allow me to be able to see the sights and at the same time get some work done as well.
One of the things I love (I have a lot!) is going places and being able to travel. I hope that I’ll be able to travel the world (it’s a big big world out there) in the future. I love learning new things and learning about different cultures and different ways of life. Traveling allows you to see and experience more of what life has to offer. Being able to soak in a particular place’s design and art is something I hope to be able to do throughout my entire existence. I love going to museums, visiting art galleries, stuffing myself with all sorts of cuisine (except the really really exotic ones though), visiting furniture stores – I can go on and on
I’ll post more pictures (I have a lot and I’ll be taking more) really soon. In the mean time, have fun looking over the ones I posted below.
Can anyone guess where I am? On a side note, the cupcakes above look absolutely scrumptious! I am also happy (in a sense) because I am able to write posts once again. Till next time.
P.S. Happy Birthday, Danii!
Hi Everyone!
By the time you read this, I’ll most probably be in the plane already. I’ll be out of the country for awhile and I am excited, panicky (because I have a lot of stuff to work on still) and a bit heartbroken (because I won’t be able to bring Georgia along – quite risky to bring one so tiny )
I don’t know yet if I can write as often while I am traveling but I will certainly try. For the mean time, this will be the only post you’ll see here (for now).
Have a good weekend everyone!
P.S. I love you, Georgia! You’ll certainly make Mummy cry a GREAT deal. I’ll miss you, sweets
This is a rather late hello October post but better late than never. (I am not condoning tardiness but rather encouraging the opposite.) How is your October so far?
“A child looking at ruins grows younger
but cold
and wants to wake to a new name
I have been younger in October
than in all the months of spring
walnut and may leaves the color
of shoulders at the end of summer
a month that has been to the mountain
and become light there
the long grass lies pointing uphill
even in death for a reason
that none of us knows
and the wren laughs in the early shade now
come again shining glance in your good time
naked air late morning
my love is for lightness
of touch foot feather
the day is yet one more yellow leaf
and without turning I kiss the light
by an old well on the last of the month
gathering wild rose hips
in the sun.”
- W. S. Merwin, The Love of October
P.S. I will be out of the country for awhile (a few weeks), will leave in a few days and I am in a whirlwind situation right now – juggling things. But it’s all good – I just try to inject lots of laughter (and snack portions) in between, it works By the way, I want to wish a very dear friend a happy birthday tomorrow. (Happy Birthday, Ibiang!)
P.P.S. We can do this, Mr. Wonderful! Go team!
I am currently working on something. By the way, this post is about something really cool that I wanted to share (on the side).
Innovation (dasparkhotel)
Dubbed as the Pipe Hotel, standard sewer pipes/concrete cylinders (2 meters in diameter and 2.5 meters long) fitted with the basic essentials (fitted with a bed, storage space and electricity) serve as the “suites” of the said hotel. It is situated in Ottensheim, Austria.
The tubes have “almost perfect pre-settings” actually. Being 20 cm thick, they provide a lot of safety to occupants against the elements, they are surprisingly bright and have good thermal properties.
Utilities-wise, the units do not feature toilets but they are situated in a precise location which makes showers, toilets, restaurants and even a swimming pool within reach. A really cool thing about the hotel (aside from the concept and all that goodness), is their system of operation – 1. Guests book their stay exclusively over the internet and they are then emailed a code number (for the number-code locks) which helps them access their “suite” upon their arrival, 2. Their “pay as you wish” system (which I hope no one will abuse) mainly covers any repairs and the servicing.
This provides an easy option for travelers and adventurers with smaller budgets – without having to sacrifice a lot (safety, comfort, etc.) or style. They are also said to be available from spring to summer. By the way, the man behind the mobile and self-sufficient concept is Andreas Strauss. This is definitely something I want to see for myself. :)
I just thought that this would be a good way to start the week – focusing on what is important, being strong and simply persevering. Have a good sunday, everyone!
P.S. I took the pictures above over a month ago. They were taken during two different occasions – the first one, I was wearing a plaid polo rolled up, cuffed jeans, my sanuks and a fisherman’s cap; the second one (I really love the saying so I took a picture so that I won’t forget it), I was wearing a dress, a cardigan and ballet flats. Yup, two different occasions.
P.P.S. I’m a bit down but it’s ok. Tomorrow might be better
There is this one thing that I wanted to get done for Georgia for the longest time – I initially wanted it done during her first birthday. I am very thankful that the other day we were able to get it done finally and at the same time experience it together
What am I talking about? Georgia was finally blessed during the annual blessing of pets! It was her very first and it saddens me however that we don’t have a picture together or a picture of her during the blessing. *sad face* I brought my camera with me but I was juggling a lot of stuff (literally) all at once and I was cuddling the little one as well. (If anyone has a picture, please do send it to me and I’ll get you a cupcake for your trouble. Thanks!)
We were running late but we were able to get there before the blessing. It was heaven – there were lots of other dogs, of all shapes and sizes! If by any chance you don’t know, I love animals and pets. There was an adult shih tzu sleeping on the pew (super cute! haha.) and an overweight golden retriever had a heat stroke. (poor doggie *sad face*) There were little puppies playing and a couple of chihuahuas as well. Another cute moment was during the “huddle part” of the owners and their pets – some doggies were growling at each other and some had to make sure that they had a tight grip on their pets (and the leash) or else it would have been a highly exciting scene (haha).
I was very happy that Georgia was able to experience it – as her mummy, it is my responsibility to make sure that her spiritual guidance is not neglected (I sound so serious).
I also got Georgia groomed and brought her a present – a hearty roll (bacon flavored). What do you think of her new haircut? I had it cut shorter since the weather has been really warm lately and I didn’t want to make it difficult for the little pumpkin. Adorable (referring to either Georgia and her new haircut and also both), yes?
P.S. The Sea Green Journal just turned two months old! Yey! Thanks a lot for dropping by and we will continue on having fun (and thinking about cupcakes, dumplings and such). Cheers!
Just a quick post on interiors I am loving today. I am not a pink girl in general but it is a good color (I love colors!). The pop of color in the interiors (below) are fantastic. This particular set is just darling especially the little girl’s room (Such a girl, Pau. Haha.).
On a side note, a quick life update/ quick life updates (haha) – 1. I think I am a bit sick, I have a “semi-cold”, 2. I went to a photography meeting tonight and it was fun, 3. The fabrics I was able to find yesterday were simply gorgeous (from an unbiased perspective), I really love fabric stores and fabrics and all the things you can imagine on what you’d love to do with a particular kind (i.e. I saw a gorgeous white and green patterned stiff cotton fabric that would just be perfect for a cute dress or as a table runner for a sunday brunch table setting – I love table settings, I’ll do one soon hopefully and post it here), 4. Georgia got a new haircut (I’ll do a seperate post on her and an update), 5. I’ll be “traveling” really soon and I HAVE TO get things done somehow, 5. More importantly, I am craving for cupcakes and some vanilla ice cream at present (i.e. right now). *sad face*
But it’s ok – I’ll just take things in stride (and munch on some honey stars – just a couple since it’s really late) and try to sleep early. Onward to tomorrow. Yey!
“It takes a long time to grow young.” – Pablo Picasso
Happy Birthday, Mr. Wonderful!
I love you.
P.S. “Happy Birthday, Daddy!” – Love, Georgia
