The Sea Green Journal

I love Pia Ulin’s pictures, here are a couple of pretty ones for today. I’m definitely posting more of her photography in this journal. She’s awesome ♥

P.S. It’s painfully hot here at the moment, I mean the weather is pretty much like this all year round. I had a couple of errands and for the most part, a good day. I leave you with a picture of one of the awesomest sandwiches out there, it is in fact quite close to my heart. It may look like a bunch of leaves/foliage for the most part  but I love the dressing (it makes me smile everytime) and it is indeed delicious.  Haha.

P.P.S. I can’t believe it’s already February tomorrow! Wow.

I will try to make this brief.

Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Suy) is a traditional Chinese technique which ensures that all things are in harmony with their surroundings. It is a complex blend of fine aesthetics, sound common sense and mystical philosophy. When literally translated, it means “Wind and Water” and these are regarded as akin to certain force, called ch’i (meaning breath, current or air). They say that having Feng Shui in the home, for instance, enhances happiness and prosperity.

My take on Feng Shui is geared towards simply being open-minded. As an interior designer and a user of spaces myself, I find it as a principle to be quite interesting and rich in context. I’m not entirely sure if I would observe it in my future space (I do love wind chimes and goldfish though! Haha.) but I do acknowledge that it works for some people and I am happy for them. Just focus on how certain aspects of it can help inspire you to grow/what works for you (and your spaces too!) but do not let it control your life and way of living entirely – I mean you can’t entirely go wrong with this  since it applies to a lot of other things actually. That being said, unto the forecast!

The year of the Dragon symbolizes Feng Shui’s water element while the Chinese zodiac year of the Dragon exudes power and force. They say that the use of the following colors will attract good fortune for this year – dark blue tones, blue green tones and black. The yellow/cream color from the previous Dragon year (which was 2000) will work especially well with this year’s color palette. It will balance out the depth of the dark colors (i.e. black) with it’s own lightness and softness. Gold as an accent color will add a touch of sophistication (may it be through your wallpaper, dinnerware or stripes in fabrics).

They say that the use of this dynamic color scheme for this year will bring about an increase flow of positive energy and attract good health and success. Also, ceramics and wood are considered as good interior materials along with natural fabrics and leather textures.  Avoid metals except those in golden colors.

Check out the simple design board I made below to give you ideas. I wish us all an awesome 2012!

I had a very challenging and hard last few days but I’m just grateful for everything. I don’t want to sound so serious (that it makes readers squirm ) thus I’ll leave it to just that first sentence and will show you an awesome design concept instead.

Below is another cool structure by Herbst Architects consisting of simple but well-made construction using timber and natural materials, it blends in with the existing environment. Made out of kwila (a popular hardwood appropriate as decking since it is quite durable, stable and has  a low splintering tendency) flooring and decking, macrocarpa (timber of choice  today because it is not treated with chemicals and is of high quality) interior lining and cedar board-and-batten clad for the exterior, the main function of the space isn’t mainly focused on providing too much convenience – the homeowners wanted things simple.

All in all, it is definitely a natural holiday home to retreat to from the busy city. I want one too!

For those who were wondering how birds look like dressed in military wear, here you go. Awesome illustrations by Sato, a Japanese artist. Absolutely brilliant!

I had a hard time choosing which one is my favorite among all of them though. They are just all so brilliant and dashing and “secret agent” cool. *sigh*

Today has been a good day so far, it’s a holiday here in the Philippines to mark the Chinese New Year. I was pretty proud of myself for finishing the design concept and the perspective I was working on (finishing up) the night before – still basking in the aftermath. Yup, all those long hours and times when I was just a blank that I avoided my drafting table all together eventually came to an amazing conclusion – it turned out quite good actually. I’m a genius! Haha.

I had a late lunch and since I wanted something “meat free”, I decided to create some sort of concoction with the stuff I was able to find in the pantry and the fridge. It turned out to be really good actually. I made a mental note of said spontaneous recipe for future consumption. Behold, my button mushroom toppings! I added in some veg and some herbs and some awesome garlic (and a couple of secret ingredients. *winkwink*). So creamy in consistency and yummy!

But my culinary wondrousity did not end there. After a couple minutes, I thought of something else. (awesome!) I guess I decided to take advantage of how gastronomically inspired I was. (I’m joking with the statements above. I’m not really full of myself. Haha.) Lo and behold, amazing pancakes as an afternoon snack. I decided to try out this new pancake flour thingymajig and added in some blueberries and cranberries as well as some oatmeal and vanilla (Yup, and some secret ingredients). I paired this with some raspberry jam – I swear it was delicious! Gone in a couple of minutes. Amazingly, everyone was quite enthusiastic and cooperative with the eating. Haha. 

P.S. Look who we have here. Its the little one! Hi Georgia She decided to stretch out on top of my sketch whilst I was tinkering with it. Yup, on top of my drawing of all places. You are just the cutest Georgia Porgia ♥ I had to take a picture.

By the way, we are off to the vet tomorrow for her follow-up. She wasn’t feeling well early on the year and it was scary (Should I do a post on this?). Yup, a couple of x-rays, some stuff and we are slowly going back to normal I hope. If she appears to be a little scruffy to you (she’s certainly not alone. I feel scruffy too. Haha.), it’s because her doctor is putting bath/groom time on hold until she gets better.

I’m inviting everyone who are in Cebu for Sinulog to drop by if you can and if you want us interior designers to paint stuff (works of art really. haha.) on you. I for one am not comfortable painting stuff on people’s faces but overall I’m sure its gonna be fun. Haha. We have been doing this for a couple of years now and proceeds will go to a beneficiary we choose. Pit Senyor Everyone! I wish you all an amazing Sinulog

P.S. January was just all over the place for me so far and thus the lack of entries. But you are all in my thoughts and I wish you all an awesome weekend.

P.P.S. Curious about Sinulog? or about our face painting event? For an overview (sort of), do click here.

Happy New Year Everyone!

I’d like to consider this year as a fresh start and would love to share this with all of you as well. It’s the lyrics of another personal favorite/best-loved song (it wasn’t  a song to begin with, it started out originally as an article from an awesome lady’s column) for many years now actually (I used to listen to it in the car after school) and I would love to use it as a guide for this year and the years to come hopefully. I wish all of us an awesome 2012! Enjoy!

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’97

Wear sunscreen.

The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now.

Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded.

But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Sing.

Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind.

The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults.

If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.

Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t.

Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t.

Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.

Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.

Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.

Dance – even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions., even if you don’t follow them.

Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old.

And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.

Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

P.P.S. I’d like to ask a favor from all of you. Please do pray for my mom, we continue on with our battle. She has a challenging procedure and we will be at the hospital on the third. Thank you.

First Post for 2012 (sort of). Awesome!

P.S. It’s a little treat for all of you. I hope you love it as much I do. ♥
P.P.S. I’m off to bed now. It’s already morning! Haha. Happy New Year Everyone!!! Yey!