Sleep deprived.

Holy Cow Steakhouse & Ozine Fest 2012 [04/14/2012]

2012-04-16T09:41:00.000+08:00

Saturday with the family. My sisters have been urging the parents to go to this Ozine Fest. It's a festival for all anime and cosplay lovers around the metro. This year it was held in SM Megamall at the Megatrade Hall.

My sisters entered the individual drawing competition. Unfortunately since my sisters are aged 14 and 10, they had to compete in the same age category. I got an entrance pass too, but I wasn't really what you call an "otaku" so I only just went sight-seeing at the bizarre yet very creative costumes that cosplayers wore. The entrance fee per day is ₱100.

We were having trouble deciding where to eat (Megamall is HUGE!) and we kept on walking until our feet led us to Holy Cow Steakhouse at the Atrium.

This Tabasco sauce wanted to take a picture with me.

How can I not smile at this? Wild, Wild West wall mementos and look at that fine cascading wooden boards!

I was also amazed at this wall painting. It's so beautiful. And the wooden rafters above it is a nice feat too!

The moment we stepped in I was taken aback by the nice ambience it has, and also I have to give props to the waiter's costumes! Yep, they're in cowboy jeans, leather boots and hats! I was totally amused at the horseshoe decor on the wall & the carriage wheel-inspired light fixture. It's not something you see everyday. Themed food establishments in Philippines are hard to come by.

We ordered BBQ Calamari for starters. They're huge calamari slices and the lemony tartar dip was a perfect complement to it. My 14-year-old sister Ia Mae had chicken fillet, Java rice and steamed veggies. Irylle (the youngest, aged 10) had the typical fried chicken with rice while I sampled the Juicy Melty Burger with their large-cut fries and spicy honey mustard dip.

This Juicy Melty Burger has a lot to offer. First off, the fries on the side are well-seasoned. It's not overpowering but not too bland. The spicy honey mustard dip completes the feat. I don't know about you but I always eat my burgers and fries together, not one first over the other. The cheese melts as you take a bite, and you can actually taste when it blends with the sumptuous juice of the burger patty fresh from the grill. The lettuce is fresh and crunchy, the buns hot and steamy but well-toasted on top along with the sesame seeds. I'm glad I picked this over rice. Therefore, I can truly say this one's for the books.

For dessert we had a choco oatmeal cookie with vanilla ice cream drizzled in rich chocolate syrup. The cookie seemed to be 3 pieces baked together as a one whole unit, it kinda looked like clover-shaped, but only with 3 sections. It was a good way to end the meal. The only the thing we were having difficulty with was cutting the cookie. It was hard! But I found a trick to it: use the dining knife and stab it (I'm serious!) and gently wedge it back and forth until the cookie divides.

My review for this restaurant:

A+ food, decent music (they played John Mayer's In Repair which is a smart choice) and lovely atmosphere. The only downfall is that they have quite a slow service. The parents did not eat together with us because they were meeting some old acquaintances, so when that meet-up got cancelled they had to order lunch when we finished eating. Papa asked for the menu and the waitress took more than 5 minutes. She didn't even get back to us. We had to ask another waiter for it (his name was Lito and this waiter talking to customers with a lot of PR skills is kinda amusing, he was trying to know the customers through small talks).

When we asked for the bill I volunteered to pay for the lunch to treat my sisters. But it was such a big disappointment that they didn't accept nor even try my UnionBank EON Visa debit card. It's weird because they said only Mastercard & Visa credit cards are acknowledged. Oh well. Maybe I have to go run to the ATM next time.

If you'd still ask me if I'd eat at Holy Cow I'd still say yes.

This is my sister Irylle's entry to the drawing contest. Isn't she amazing?

Ia Mae left early to meet her friends at the venue so it was only Papa, Mama, Irylle and I waiting at our booth. And then I suddenly had the funny realization: I told Irylle we resembled the How I Met Your Mother gang and that Holy Cow was our MacLaren's! We had our own booth; Mama and Papa were Lily and Marshall because Ma's into shopping and Pa's into supernatural stuff. I was Ted the overthinker and the OC-guy, Ia Mae was Robin because she's boyish and a tsundere as she says, Irylle was Barney because she keeps on obsessing over his Legendary-ness. "And how bout Ian (our brother) who's back home because he was suffering from body ache?" I asked. Irylle replies, "Well he can be Kevin or Ranjit. But Papa can also be Ranjit cause he drives."

It's so great to have good conversations over good food. We waited until 6pm at Holy Cow before submitting Irylle's drawing upstairs.

View from the 5th floor.

My new kicks. Navy blue pumps it is.

We had to stay at SM Megamall until 9 or 10pm for the awarding of winners. I'm not good at waiting but seeing Irylle win the contest for the individual drawing category of 14 below was worth it! She's the sole winner among all the kids who have joined in the Ozine Fest. She even beat Ia Mae! :P

I'm a proud ate :)

Did you attend the Ozine Fest this year? If so, how was your experience?

x Iris

Easter [04/08/2012]

2012-04-15T15:50:00.000+08:00

It's a tradition in my country to observe what we call "The Holy Week". It's a week of reflection for Roman Catholics with respect to Jesus Christ's suffering before he was crucified onto the cross. For us Filipinos, we are not allowed to eat meat for one whole week until Easter Sunday has come.

In our local community, my mother was tasked to make the float for the early morning parade. She thought it was going to be Mama Mary's so she made her pretty plastic flowers to a very beautiful illuminated rosary that embraces the carriage. Little did she know that it was for Jesus Christ's statue. She was very ecstatic about it that she asked us all to come and get up early to witness it for the so-called "salubong" (in Tagalog language, it means in verb form "to welcome" or "the welcome" in noun form). I've seen the float the night before even though it wasn't illuminated and it was pretty just by itself. Too bad I didn't get to take pictures but I think Mama has them in her digicam. The salubong starts at around 3 or 4am and the parade follows the carriage on its way to church. Little children can become participants too and they are dressesd as angels.

We got to the church really early. Surprisingly this is quite near to our village. It's at the back end after turning left to Salitran Road. When Mama came to see us we sat down at the pew and listened to the mass. Honestly, I haven't been to church for like 6 months or so! Shame of me, I know. One hour is just a little sacrifice for the whole week of good time I have in my life. But I think if I'd ever get to church I'd go really early so I wouldn't feel so sleepy compared to the afternoon attendance we usually get to go to.

After the mass, we were on the road to have our second breakfast in McDonald's. Second because we already ate at 7-Eleven before we got to church, it was when we couldn't get to the parade so we waited for Mama instead. And while on the road as I was saying... look what my awesome find is:

Man in motorcycle with his cool Reese's bag

So yeah my siblings and I were like, "oooooh look at that cool guy and his Reese's bag!" I scrambled to get the camera and take the precious shot. It was so funny we couldn't get over it. It would also be mindblowing if he had loaded real Reese's peanut butter bars in there! And where could I get a Reese's backpack too? Oh the things you find when traveling...

We had a really good family time today. Moments like this are one of the things I treasure the most. When everything is fine and we're all complete. Sundays like this are the best.

My sister and I just being kawaii (lol not really)

Before heading to McDonald's. It's freaking hot in where I am!

How about you? How do you like your Sundays?

x Iris

Product Review: iWhite Korea Nose Pack Whiteheads and Blackheads Remover [03/27/2012]

2012-03-27T00:53:00.000+08:00

I've been looking for an effective blackheads remover but not until today have I found it. I was grocery shopping at the local mall when I spotted this on the shelf:

I tried it right away when I got home. It came in a pack of 3's in a set all taped up together. When I opened it and spread it on my face it reminded me of the consistency of Elmer's Glue! The instruction at the back said to wait 15 minutes until it hardens to be ready for removal. 15 minutes had passed, I peeled off the white mask that surrounded my face (it was tight!) but surprisingly felt good!

The mask was easy to peel and it smelled really nice. It's my first time to use a blackhead remover mask and this brand has already has made its way as my favorite!

I've tested it for a day and I can say it's truly effective! For a very affordable price of ₱51 for a set of 3's, you're getting your money's worth. My skin was smoother than ever and 95% of oil & blackheads were gone!

So in summary, the downside is the glue-like sticky feel when applying at first and the little redness of your face when you take it off but I totally I love it! It's amazing when I find great products like these! How about you? Do know any effective blackhead remover? What's your favorite? :)

x Iris

** Note: This is not a sponsored post

Mongolian Dinner [01/28/2012]

2012-02-17T23:22:00.000+08:00

Tyler had been sick with cough and runny nose for 2 days so I had to urge him to go to the doctor. We went to Festival Mall Alabang to have him checked and turns out it was acute bronchitis. It wasn't so bad as he expected (he didn't like going to doctors) but we ended up having Mongolian cuisine for dinner, thanks to my parents who treated us for yummy foods.

Located at the 3rd floor in Festival Mall Alabang, The Mongolian Quick Stop is a delectable heaven for food trippers. The first time I ate here was when Papa took all four of us siblings to eat. Since then I loved the place! They prepare fresh veggies everyday, serving fresh lumpia, chopsuey and salad and they do not use monosodium glutamate or MSG to add flavor to the food. The thing that I admire the most is its wide variety of choices in their humble menu for a very affordable price. They also serve FREE soup along with your meal!

My honeyglazed chicken, egg, rice, soup & iced tea.

Deep-fried calamari with garlic & mayo dip

Thank you for the treat Mama & Papa!

They also offer food delivery via QuickDelivery.ph (or call 212-1212) and advance food order for pickup if you call the respective branch's phone line. Click here for more info.

If you're tired of the usual fast-food and on a budget like me, I highly recommend Mongolian Quick Stop! You won't regret it!

x Iris

* Note: This is NOT a sponsored post.

The Story Of Iris & Tyler [02/02/2012]

2012-02-02T19:19:00.000+08:00

Love is a commitment. This is what Tyler and I believed in. And this is our story.

I am proud to say that after 6 months long distance, almost a year of engagement and 1 year of being together as a couple, we've finally tied the knot. What started as a stranger-to-stranger connection from Omegle quickly became guitar buddies and eventually... best friends and lovers.

The First Encounter

Tyler and I first met on Omegle on the night of Halloween 2010. I was bored from trying to play my guitar (coincidentally, my guitar's name is Tyler too) and looking for chords online when I decided to go on chat online around 11 or 12 AM and probably talk to somebody out of the blue just cause I couldn't sleep yet. According to Tyler, he just got off from his previous work and he got home, went on his computer and on Omegle.

I honestly couldn't remember what our first conversation is, but I ended up getting his Skype and Facebook. :D

The Chase

We shared a lot of things in common. What I liked most from him is that he knows how to carry a conversation and his neverending zest to be funny. He makes me laugh and has a lot of wit to back-up his humor.

We mostly talked about guitars, music that we liked and recording songs. He gave me this demo mp3 of a song he made and I liked it. We swapped stuff that we wrote and sang and it became quite a habit. We talked day and night, even 8 hours on Skype! We bonded over How I Met Your Mother and both came to a conclusion that Barney Stinson and Marshall Eriksen are our favorite characters. I knew we liked each other but I knew it was impossible that there was something more to this. We live on the opposite ends of the world so it couldn't be what it should be.

He kept on asking me to approve the relationship request on Facebook, though I always tell him it shows as "sister (family) request" on mine. (Of course I was just dodging; I didn't wanna ruin a good friendship just yet). Still, he was persistent.

On November 11, 2010 he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes.

The Long Distance Relationship

A lot of people have been skeptic as to why we were even striving hard to keep a long distance relationship working then when we haven't seen nor experienced being with each other in person.

There was even a time that breaking up crossed our minds and thought it would be better to let it go. We don't know when will be the day that he and I will finally meet and hold each other's hands.

In all honesty we were never sure of anything but one thing: we liked each other and we seemed to click. Don't get me wrong - we had our ups and downs like normal couples too but we managed to get past almost everything. Patience, trust and understanding truly pays off. We kept in contact for as long as we could and by summer he planned a trip to Philippines to visit me and my family.

The Engagement

The first time Tyler visited Philippines was in May 2011 and he only had 3 weeks to stay. It's wonderful we didn't have any awkward moment from the first time we met each other. It's like... I have known him my whole life.

When Tyler & I first met in person (May, summer of 2011)

After fetching him from the airport with my parents and drove to my condo, he popped the question and knelt on his knees with his mom's heirloom ring in his hand.

"Will you marry me?"
"Yes," I replied with a big smile :)

"Lucky I'm in love with my best friend..."

The Decision

Two months after, he returned here. The second time was in August 2011 and he extended his tourist visa up to February 2012 so he and I could spend more time like other normal couples. We had to make up for lost time.

Tagaytay (May 2011)

Enjoying our lovely summer together (May 2011)

We both decided to get married. We were sure of it. He asked my parents for their consent and knowing that they were quite strict, I thought they'd tell Tyler to wait 5 years or more. Surprisingly, after months of knowing him and seeing him mingle with us they liked him and finally gave their blessing.

At Rack's Mall Of Asia; (L-R) Me, Tyler, Tito Bing, my 2nd youngest sister Ia Mae, Mama & Papa

The Preparation

We ditched our plan to get married by November 11, 2011 because we knew a lot of people would get married then. And plus, we wanted a new date to celebrate.

We gathered most of what we needed before Christmas. We went to the US Embassy, the city hall in the town I live in, seminars and everything. By end of January all of it was done.

The Wedding

We got married January 25, 2012. It was a lovely Wednesday. We decided on that date because it was also my late grandfather's birthday. It was a simple celebration - just my parents (my siblings were aware of but they were at school so they couldn't attend) and a handful of close friends.

I couldn't ask for more. I'm glad to have him in my life now.
This is where our new life begins.

Tavolozza is on Tumblr!

2012-01-22T01:57:00.001+08:00

Follow my shop on Tumblr! http://tavolozza.tumblr.com

Pretty Things

2012-01-07T20:41:00.000+08:00

Cute embossed dress stickers from my youngest sister.

A journal I randomly bought for only PHP 35. I like the postcard cover very much.

x Iris

A Date With Guns & My Best Friend [01/02/2012]

2012-01-07T19:43:00.005+08:00

When the spark and smoke had died from the air after midnight, everybody knew it was a signal of a fresh new start. A brave new take on life. January 2 was ours.

My Christmas gift for Tyler not only ended with the English-Tagalog books I gave him because after the ceasefire from New Year's fireworks, we went to Festival Mall to claim his PHP 600 voucher I got from Ensogo (worth PHP 1339) for Jethro Shooting Range. It was 50 rounds of pure fun and ammunition.

When we got there it turns out he can't use the voucher cause he's a foreigner & they said only a local can use it (even though it wasn't stated in the Ensogo voucher terms & conditions; it only said it could be transferable as a gift). He had to avail of the PHP 3k package. I was sad because it was supposed to be my gift to him. Anyway, he said it's okay and that it was fate that maybe we were meant to go shoot some bullets together so he just told me to use the voucher myself. I was hesitant at first, but after Tyler's great persuasion skills I gave in to his request. We actually got 30% off according to the lady so he only had to pay PHP 2100 instead compared to this other shooting range we saw in Quezon City which was like PHP 1600 for each person, bullets not yet included.

He held a .45 mm caliber gun and I took the .9 mm caliber. His gun was louder than mine but when I was shooting he told me that mine was louder. I don't know, probably we went deaf! After getting used to the explosion and the recoil, everything was fine. It was actually fun! :P

We left the shooting range trigger-happy and as a deal for making me go shooting with him, he treated me to our favorite, New York Fries & Dip (NYFD) and a heap of Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

We bore with the liquid cheese dip because I only had one honey mustard & yep I used it up all.

Bullseye.

It was fulfilling to see Tyler happy, especially cause he was really into guns and skill-shooting. I practically shot the whole guy's body (see photo: left) - sorry black guy; but Tyler really hollowed out the guts on his (right)!

I had fun too I must admit, even though gun shooting wasn't my thing. But hey! At least Tyler and I now have another thing in common! And plus, I kinda conquered the gun there. I might actually shoot again!

x Iris

Holidays 2011 [12/25/11 - 01/01/12]

2012-01-05T07:11:00.000+08:00

Christmas Day. Supposed to be attending my 1st godchild's christening at Quezon City but was stuck in traffic at Baclaran 'round high noon. My cousin Dianne (from my mother's side) gave birth to a baby boy named Yuan Dominick & I was chosen to be the godmother ~~(no, I am not that old!)~~ Didn't get there on time so I just paid them a visit and gave my "pamasko" (Christmas gift).

We then left to visit Papa's relatives who also live in the same city. I got to visit my lovely Tiya Weng (tiya in Filipino is aunt; she's my paternal grandmother's sister) and the kins in the compound. This is Tyler's 1st grand meeting with them.

Me, Mama and Tiya Weng

With my youngest sister at the farthest left.

Tyler & Tiya Weng

Playing my aunt's guitar

It was 10pm when we were on the road back home when Papa asked to stop by at The Seaside near CCP Complex.

I took the cam so I didn't have a shot with them here. .___.

A day before the New Year.

Parents invited Tyler and me to SM Mall of Asia; Papa was going to have his reunion with his college batchmates. I took this opportunity to take Tyler out for a date.

By the Bay

Seaside Boulevard

Mama, Irylle, Tyler and I were supposed to eat at Gerry's Grill but it was so full during lunch that we had to relocate. Tyler saw a Mediterranean restaurant back from where we entered so he suggested the place.

It was Cafe Mediterranean: Flavors Of The Sun.

Mama ordering something from the menu

They have neat authentic interiors which makes it more appealing to eat in!

Table mosaic.

...he ordered Kofta Burger. I ordered a Moussaka.

The foods were really delectable, I was already full when I ate 1/2 or 3/4 of my Moussaka. Cafe Mediterranean is a much affordable resto than it seems (large dishes are around PHP 250 per person; tall refillable iced teas are PHP 75) but it's not something you could eat every day of the week. It'd probably good to check in once or twice a month - reserve it on special occasions.

By the end of the day, we found ourselves being tugged to this swinging Galleon that Irylle asked us to ride in. Tyler and I obliged knowing it would make my youngest sister happy.

We had boxed cheesecakes as take-home desserts too. Too bad I didn't get a hold of pictures of those.

New Year's Eve.

Two things were abundant that night: food and fireworks.

Empty street outside the house.

Watermelon balls.

Skitty, our cat of 5 years.

Rainbow puto (puto is a Filipino delicacy; it's cupcake made of rice flour)

Tyler's favorite: Mama's homestyle spaghetti.

My plate!

The chef who cooked everything that is delicious. My mama.

More spaghetti and chicken & beef frankfurts.

Hope you're all having a good start this 2012!

x Iris

Productive day - part 02: Christmas Shopping [12/16/2011]

2011-12-23T21:33:00.000+08:00

...continued from part 02.

Since I got my salary from my freelance project with my uncle, I used the money to buy some good stuff. To people who know me so well they're aware that thrift shopping is my thing so when somebody tipped me over at this thrift shop somewhere within the vicinity, I asked Mama if I could use the car and if she wanted to go with me to find some cheap goodies.

Candies in the car!

The moment we parked in front of the thrift shop I knew I was in for a thrill ride! There were pretty dresses everywhere most of which were sold for 120-180!

There were only a handful of people when we arrived, although as Mama and I have noticed, the number grew just after minutes when we were scouring the racks of clothes.

They have 2 floors of thrift goodness!

The thrift shop was really a heaven! The ground floor was for the new arrivals (most of which are SO PRETTY!) and the 2nd floor features everything that's 50% off! I was literally pulling anything that I see from the racks.

Everything I got amounted to almost PHP 4,000+, which were like 28 beautiful pieces of clothes. Boy, shopping sure takes a toll on my wallet but hey, I got good stuffs!

Mama looking at some polo from the rack.

PHP 25.00 sign.

Shopping was a good mother-daughter bonding too! Mama and I are definitely gonna be back at that place. I even scored a faux leather jacket for only PHP 280! Can you believe that? And anybody who saw that jacket told me it was gorgeous and didn't even think it was thrifted!

SM Molino in a very festive mood.

When we got home, Mama told me she'd be going to SM and pay at BDO. So when she was at the bank, I went to National Bookstore to look at some books. Most of them, were for my revitalized hobby...

I think I spent a good 30 minutes in that section alone, scouring through everything that breezes through my hands. I wanted to buy so much photography books but then again, I won't be able to use it that much unless I actually own a DSLR. I'm still sticking to my good ole Agfa Digicam anyway. Plus, I'd rather spend on books later when I'm upgraded. For now, I can just read tutorials on the internet for free :D

However, I came to National Bookstore for a very good reason. I was going to buy a very nice gift for Tyler.

A handy phrase book and an English-Tagalog dictionary for my love.

UPDATE [12/29/11]: He loved the books I gave him! I told him it'd be very useful on his travel. And also, it would be a good read on his plane back home or when he misses me. As a gift to me, he gave me a necklace that he made himself. It was a coin necklace with genuine Yens and a 5-centavo coin. I love handmade stuff! He was so frantic cause he didn't know if I would like his gift that he even cut his finger while making it.

Tyler is very sweet and I am so lucky to spend this year's Christmas with him. :')

x Iris

Productive day - part 01: Simbang Gabi / McDonald's Breakfast [12/20/2011]

2011-12-23T18:51:00.000+08:00

Every day of every week felt like the same - it was monotonous and bland. So when I had the opportunity to paint my day brighter than anything else, I did.

I started the day with simbang gabi (early Christmas mass). Here in the Philippines it is a tradition that every Yuletide people attend mass at 4am. I didn't get much sleep that day so I just waited till the clock hit four.

A big crowd gathered outside the church. We came a bit late but just in time to hear the sermon. I kind of missed waking up early just for this.

Interior of the Sto. Nino de Molino Parish Church (front)

Back view of the church where the entrance is

Mama and Irylle after the mass. :)

Looking outside the van window

After the mass Irylle and I were chanting at the back seat proposing to Papa that we should go have breakfast at the newly-renovated McDonald's near RFC Molino since we're already outside - a wish which our father had eventually obliged.

On the way to McDonald's

My cup of hot chocolate

My little sister Irylle eating her pancake

Longganisa, rice and egg meal

Papa about to drink his coffee

Me, shot taken by Irylle

Breakfast @ McDonald's has always been sumptuous. We had pancakes, coffee and longganisa and rice; coffee and hot chocolate to wash down our meals.

The new place was nice but as an interior design student I find the interior too common - the use of dark laminated MDF wood, graphic prints and vibrant colors of lime, turquoise and violet were all too cliche in my eyes; I guess it's because in my observation I have seen a lot of establishments with such design approach and that it's also because for me McDonald's trying its best to be a really modern and upscale fastfood.

I thought this branch would consider having a 2nd floor (since the other McDonald's Branch at the end of Molino Blvd has one) but they didn't; they just retained the place only improving the aesthetics and space planning of the area.

Lovely sunrise.

...part 02 to be continued.

Almost Christmas [12/16/2011]

2011-12-17T04:55:00.000+08:00

My wanderlust is growing, and I can always feel the thumping of my heart to it. Yesterday was rollercoaster. It didn't start as good as it's supposed to be but it turned out to be a really great day.

Tyler takes my heart away everytime we do something fun. I am happy. The wind was getting colder and I was feelin' the Christmas spirit already.

I knew deep inside we had to go somewhere, somewhere special to spend the day. And so we headed to Alabang Town Center for a Friday night out.

I was starving when we left home so we went to NYFD first to get french fries. He offered to carry my coat and we walked holding hands.

NYFD is awesome - you're missing your life if you haven't tried it! We got the biggest cup and had 3 dips to choose from. Tyler got the Pepper Steak dip (which later on became his favorite) and 2 little dishes of my ever-favorite Honey Mustard for me.

We got Zagu for drinks - he had his mango puree smoothie and I had my usual Hazelnut Cappuccino. I couldn't ask for a simpler date, really. Just enjoying the things that I love with him is more than what I could even hope for. Sometimes I still get this moment of being starstruck that after half a year of long distance we're actually next to each other.

ATC garden with all its pretty lights

I wore my black & white lace dress underneath my black coat that night which I bought from an online store this week and the white ankle boots to match the outfit. Tyler said I was pretty, and I smiled. I was thankful to have a guy who'd rather love seeing me without makeup on.

My love (left); Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (right)

The night was just calm and breezy. There was piano music in the air and Christmas lights that looked like fireflies swarming the trees. We found a seating spot next to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf where we settled and started eating. My long sleeves kept me from being cold; he looked at me again and smiled. I felt a little pause in my chest and I knew there's nothing else in the world that mattered. I told him I would miss him by the time he has to leave again. And I didn't wanna get sad right away so I just focused on munching on my food.

I asked him then, "if you had one wish for Christmas what would it be?" To which he replied, "would this be an immediate or a lifelong wish?" He was smart to answer that way and I told him how much of the people I knew would be safe to say, "to have more wishes". I was amazed at his wit so I told him he could wish anything his heart desires. "Marry me," he quickly replied. For some reason he still likes to ask me that question and I would still get that butterfly excitement I've always had since he proposed. My eyes kinda welled up with tears but I managed to pucker my lips to lick some honey mustard and say, "yes." I glanced upon my engagement ring; a happy thought about a future we are going to have together fluttered by. I've loved him since the beginning of everything. He was the epitome of my love at its fullest, our love stood time and distance. It's surreal how this time last year we were just apart and this year we're spending Christmas together.

Tyler doing Christmas shopping with me

We walked until our feet grew tired and I could feel my heels were taking toll on me. My camera's rechargeable batteries ran out of energy so I had to buy fresh ones after we ate just so I wouldn't miss taking pictures that day. We were just frolicking around when I found this...

LazerXtreme, a Lazertag arena just right above Tempura grill!

We didn't get to play Lazertag though, but at least I've managed to stare at its awesomeness for quite a while! Maybe next time, we will.

It was a fun and fulfilling date that we had. I've learned a lot of things in a day and realized that days go by faster than usual. I may have to keep track of our adventures so we have something to look back to when we miss being together.

Happy days with Tyler are always the best days of my life. It's like the flowers in full bloom during summer when we would celebrate our birthdays together in April.

Somehow I kinda wish he would still linger until then.

x Iris

Thrift Shopping x Sleepy Afternoon

2011-12-15T00:07:00.001+08:00

After all the stressful & sleepless nights doing freelance work, my week has finally come to a peace. So before I go on a client project again, I decided to treat myself with my work salary to a wardrobe addition - and I never thought online shopping could be this fun!

Bought all of these from an online store called Purple Mermaid.
Total purchase was PHP 480 + PHP 50 for shipping. Not bad!

I love thrift shopping. Not only because it's cheaper compared to retail prices but the items are one-of-a-kind so you don't have to worry with accidental wardrobe similarities at a party.

Normally, clothes here from the regular mall boutiques would cost around PHP 250+. A coat would be more likely to fall under 750-1500 range. So I was really lucky to have stumbled upon this little piece of shopping heaven. They have a great variety of clothes for a very affordable price & the best thing is, items are delivered right at your doorstep! Now let me review my stash for you:

The black coat is really snazzy - the material is kinda like a combination of faux leather and cotton. It reminds me of what Anne Hathaway wore in The Devil Wears Prada. I've always been a fan of coats that reach up to the waist so when I saw this one I knew it was love at first sight.

Denim tube dress. This is really cool. It complemented my figure very well although it was garterized at the back, it had a bit of allowance so it was kinda loose. Not a problem cause then it's an advantage when I get fat. Haha! :P The skirt was black chiffon I think and it was comfy to wear.

The lace dress was very sexy, it was more of like a top than a dress cause you have to wear another black skirt or leggings because it's shorter than I imagined. The black ankle boots that I have & the white Kikit boots match this. TIP: when buying clothes, don't be just swayed by how pretty it looks but also consider if you have existing items in your wardrobe that would match with it. This way, not only do you save but you also open more combinations for mix and match! :)

Green cardigan. I've been eyeing this thing for months from that shop but I always pass cause I didn't wanna buy just one item only. So when Purple Mermaid had a sale and saw that this was repriced as PHP 80 I knew I had to get it. This is more of like a fashion accent rather than just serving its purpose as a cardigan - the design is made to feature whatever garment you have underneath so this is really useful if you wanna flaunt that printed dress or tank top. The cardigan's really nice as if it was measured to fit me. I can pull up the sleeves to a 3/4 and it would still look cool.

I would definitely buy again from Purple Mermaid! Great finds for a great value!

Late post. On another note, one day during this week I was feeling sleepy and then I suddenly remembered the band that Ryan Ross & Jon Walker (former band members of Panic! At The Disco) formed. It was called The Young Veins.

They remind me of The Beatles somehow with their melodic retro-pop tunes & catchy lyrics.

My favorite track is Heart Of Mine, Change and Defiance. I've heard of them before right after PATD's disbanding broke out all over the web. The first thing I listened to was Change but back then it didn't appeal to me that much. Probably cause I was still bitter with the whole disbanding thing. However, tables have turned. I've listened to the new Panic! At The Disco album they just released lately - the one with Calendars and Nearly Witches in it. I must say, that the split was worth it - else I wouldn't have the privilege to listen to this new laid-back band.

The Young Veins is very ideal if you wanna listen to something different, more like a getaway of sort. The album is a must-have for when you're going to the beach or out-of-town.

After listening to music for a while I decided to take my camera and do some test shots. I know, I know, these aren't that good but bear with me. I love practicing with whatever I have for the moment. I don't own a DSLR but I believe that I can work with any camera. The vision is always with the photographer anyway! Right? :P

My camera case and my black-rimmed non-grade glasses that Tyler fixed:
he put my old 400/400 graded lens into the frame.

I love practicing with macro.

Well that's all for now. Will keep you updated if I find something interesting! Also, follow me on Twitter if you like! @irisxxvii

x Iris

Freelancing = my life now

2011-12-07T05:15:00.001+08:00

Updates.

Well, I'm back to blogging. I finally realized that the idea of blogging is one way to help me sort out stuff and not just to vent - but to actually share. I was inspired to return to the blogosphere after reading some inspirational blog posts and seeing some cool blog templates (though I still think that this B&W theme is rocking my socks). <3

For now, work is my life. I'm at home working as a freelance graphic designer. Freelancing has ups and downs. For one, you get to work at your own pace and your own time. Two, you get paid easily; no more 30 days of slaving to get your salary. Three, you can always eat food and sleep whenever you want to because DUH you're at home! Sounds great? Yep. I might take this graphic design thing going full time. Might try Odesk or something like that for the next career move.

Anyway. Discovery-wise, to all interior design students out there hear me out: I discovered this program called InteriCAD. It's cool - I think it's an AutoCAD plugin that lets you render 3D interiors easily, pretty much like 3DsMax but quicker. Asked InteriCAD Philippines for a price quote and it's a whopping 120k for a licensed program! My god. I don't even know if I'll pay for just a tad of software. Too bad the internet doesn't have it in torrents. Or at least none that I know of. :(

But hey! If you do have one, please let me know by emailing me at irisbuen@yahoo.com or tweeting me at @irisxxvii.

Look forward to me being active here.

x Iris

Andy

2010-11-19T19:44:00.010+08:00

He's my childhood. What represented who I used to be and who I am now. ~~College.~~ Such an exciting phase. 1 year to go and I'm out of it. But after watching Toy Story 3 weeks ago, I realized I missed being a kid. The Toy Story trilogy has stuck there all along.

I missed that time that I used to play toy cars especially my little red Ferrari Matchbox. Yes I had Barbie dolls but I enjoyed having Matchbox cars to play with on sand dunes, carving man-made roads with my little brother Ian, spending endless hours in the sun under the shade of our backyard trees. The fresh air, the sweet scent of weekend afternoons and trickling sweat that children ignore for the sake of playtime.

Back then, everything was simpler. Fun was easily attainable, all you had to do was play. I won't lie... it made me cry to see Andy leaving for college. It's like knowing that a part of me had gone away. Childhood. How I miss it the most.

But we can never head back, only forward though you can always choose to look behind and reminisce the good memories. You can always choose to remember your old self.

I don't really know what has driven me to write this mushy post about childhood but everytime I see that picture of young and grown-up Andy I can't help but to miss myself. :')

See you soon little Iris, I love you. ♥

The Maine

2010-11-02T19:18:00.013+08:00

Randomly out of nothing I opened Ma's laptop and did two covers. I was on The Maine fever this weekend (blame my brother for his awesome music taste) and so I did these:

Into Your Arms - Download
I Must Be Dreaming - Download

I was inspired okay? ♥ Anyway, let me know what you think.

Senseless

2010-09-12T02:16:00.004+08:00

I don't understand.

I really don't.

I feel attracted to him and it doesn't make sense.

It's not that I don't like him. It's just... it might not be mutual.

By then, I'll lose the only person I believe is my other half.

Curly Tops ♥

2010-08-09T16:47:00.001+08:00

2010-08-04T04:10:00.002+08:00

7 hours.

Estilo De Vida.

Concept.

~~DUE ON THURSDAY~~

And I still don't have any floor plan, reflected ceiling plan and perspective draft.

Mission impossible.

2010-07-12T21:10:00.002+08:00

I miss watching CSI and Kyle XY, reading approx. 8 books in one month, drowning in PHP/CSS/HTML for fun.

I want to be my old self again.

Your Hair Is On Fire

2010-07-05T13:15:00.007+08:00

Album by Leslie Hunt. I discovered her through the awesome site of Jamendo. Alternative pop rock sounds so good. Well, anything with the genré "alternative" will always sound good!

I think I love her already. ♥ Good music to listen to while I do my plates.

Here's the track list:

1. American Dream Man
2. Your Hair Is On Fire
3. All The Way
4. Let Them Go
5. Way Too Much
6. First Date
7. I Only Care About You When You're Gone
8. Alone Tonight
9. I_
10. Down Day
11. Lonely Home
12. Sea I Provide
13. Open Your Eyes

2010-07-04T23:22:00.007+08:00

Space planning could be hard, you know?

Standard requirements for a restaurant, oh you give me headache. But at least I now have the e-book copy of Time Saver Standards for Interior Design & Space Planning. I could cry happy tears! :') My project this time is a contemporary Moroccan resto-café.

Fettucine Alfredo

2010-06-28T16:52:00.003+08:00

Last Sunday, I got to try Pizza Hut's pasta. GUESS WHAT! I loved it! Since I wasn't able to see a carbonara on the menu, I opted for the Fettucine Alfredo instead - and I made the right choice.

The thick creamy white sauce, bacon bits, herb, and the complementary garlic bread were superb! I think I'm in love! :)

Can't wait to try this out again!

2010-06-27T22:48:00.006+08:00

Prada Napa Fringe Hobo. I want you, and I'll have you someday.

How much is that kid in the shopping cart?

2010-06-27T18:45:00.004+08:00

My little sister's wearing my shades. And she's rocking it.

♥ i.