Tuesday, February 21, 2012

blue is summer

Its almost summer!

Although we have been experiencing alot of bad weather recently, the warm temperature and the sunny summer sun can be really felt and are just around the corner. Its always been warm here in Davao although rainy weather appears late in the afternoon and during evenings. This sometimes catches me unprepared--wearing breezy and comfy outfit for the warm day when heavy rain pours down in the afternoon.

I always like to combine white and blue for a summer get up so for last Saturday's outfit, I pulled out one of my favorite dress from H&M and paired it with an old blazer from my sister's closet. In this way, I can remove the blazer during the warm hours and put it in at night or inside our office.

Sorry, I look like a fat frog! lol

Dress: H&M
Shoes: TOMS
Blazer: Dereche Apparel by Marcelino (local)
Headband: SM Accessories
Other accessories: DIY

My DIY project has just expanded with these being added to my collection. :D I'll probably post some DIY project here again soon.

Heart necklace. Materials bought at Craft Shop

Baby pin cat. Baby diaper pin, scrapbook flower button and cat pendant

Recycled. From scrapt and old bracelets.

And thanking my friends who laughed with me as we took this shameless self portrait again! 
Kuya Angie and Rara.

The supposedly-jump-shot. I love this!


Meet the Mentor

also posted in my jux account www.redmisao.jux.com

Many people may not believe but the person who taught me more about love for photography is the very man who sits right beside me always. He is also the man behind the great photos of Soul Lifestyle....

That is him by the way. And the photo he took of Cheyser that made it to the current billboard of Soul Lifestyle.

and this...my favorite

Seize the say. The original photo caption and one of James' first photos..

It will prolly take the entire blog page to fill in the wonderful photos he had taken.
so just check out his postings in the world wide web and im sure you'll enjoy it alot! :)

James Bautista Flickr

He'll probably kill me for doing some senseless article about him. I surely have to make another 'more serious' blog soon. Watch out... :)

Sunday, February 12, 2012

DiY Bracelets

One of my biggest dilemma when I started making my lifestyle blog is the fashion area. I grew up with few things in life. Its not a sad thing but its a different outlook when you decided to make a lifestyle blog--you can never get away with fashion. And the logic goes. No fashion statement is ever complete without accessories.

Yes, yes, I heard you...changing of closet = spending. And no. Fashion doesn't mean you have to spend all your income to buying stuff that will compliment you and your outfit. So this is what I did and I thought that this might help you in one way or another as you may also be in the same dilemma as I am.

DIY Bracelets.

Things you need:

beads of any kind
thread or nylon or thin floral wire
(note: the thread or nylon or wire must fit into your beads. otherwise change your beads or your thread)
caps (optional)
chains (optional, depending on your design)
locks and hooks
For this demonstration, I used two different colors for easy distinction.
Step 1:
Insert five (5) beads, in alternate colors into your thread. No locks needed to start your thread.
So my pattern is blue-pink-blue-pink-blue.

Step 2:
Insert the other end of you thread into your last bead in an opposite direction. This will serve as the 'base' of your bracelet. Remember though that your last bead is colored blue so the next bead in line should be, yes, pink.
You should have ended on a circle like this.

Step 3:
Now, thread one pink bead with your end "b" (see picture below) and insert it in the bead skipping the bead before your last bead. In this illustration, since your last bead is blue, skip the pink bead then insert the end "b" into the blue bead.
Do not insert the "b" end in an opposite direction. Follow the arrow going to the left. That should where your thread must come out.

Step 4:
Repeat step 3 but this time, since the last bead is pink, use blue bead this time. Remember to insert end "b" in alternate beads. When you tighten your beads, you will have something that looks like this.

Step 5:
Continue to repeat step 3 until you reach desired length.


Tip: to insert your thread easily, you can use a needle or hooks so long as it will fit the holes of your beads.


Step 6:
Once you reach your desired length, lock the ends of your bracelets.
There are many binders and locks available in the craft store. For this project, I simply made a knot at the ends of the bracelet.


Step 6.5:
To hide the knots, I used these caps that can also be bought in your local craft stores.
(Change location of pictorials)
Step 7:
Add your locks and hooks.
For this project, I used some chains since chains are really in season and can go with any outfit you desire.


And the finished product.


Depending on the size, color and style of your beads and thread, your bracelet will also change the size and overall look. I also made one bracelet using Japanese beads and a different chain this time (Am I obviously in love with chains?)


I hope you do like this post! :) Till the next DIY project!
Good night all!

Grab a Crab

Okay, so my blog is really turning into a food blog most of the time.
And here's another one!

Karina and I plans to finish all the major resto in Abreeza before the year ends. So keeping up with our own promises to eat and contradicting our own new year's resolution to slim down, we decided to visit Grab a Crab in Abreeza.

Karina and I were classmates in high school in Cotabato City which is also a great place to get crabs. I can proudly say though that aside from Surigao, the crabs from Cotabs is the best in Mindanao. With that bar raised high, we bravely ordered menu good for four and honestly, I was more than full that night!



It is not my first time in this restaurant. My friend in GenSan, Kaye Tan, bought me to the same place way in 2009, back when it not here in Davao City yet. To tell you honestly, the food is great. We ordered Szechuan Crab and Mixed Vegies with Seafood. The food is perfectly cooked, served at the right temperature and good tasting! the service crew are very accommodating and cheerful to their customers. The place is cozy, chairs are comfortable (plus points on the high back of the chair--people don't see you out-of-poised eating the crabs)!




I must say that the downside though is the price. The one crab we ate (400 grams) was costing to 10 crabs if we buy it in Cotabs. Moreso, there is not comfort room inside the place. The waiter pointed me to the not-so-best powder room in Abreeza but the place has their own washing area for customers who want to eat in gusto with their hands. Nevertheless, I had a great Saturday night Grab a Crab, which I can confidently recommend to my friends!

Grab a Crab is located at the 3rd floor, Abreeza Mall of Davao.
Don't just read, eat!

Soon: Poshnails Abreeza



Pamper yourself and learn how to shoo those stressors away! 
Poshnails is soon coming to Davao to open at the 3rd floor of Abreeza Mall.
Last week, I got the privilege to try how wonderful their service and met the people who will be part of the Posh Team. So Davao City, watch out for their opening and I shall be looking forward for that day too!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

PHOTOGRAPHY: Flares

We had a great weekend shoot last Sunday. Thanks to no other than the Godfather, Sir Ange who organized the shoot.

Taken with Nikon D90, 85mm, ISO 200 f4.0

It was getting late when we started our second set with Angela. Being not so good with strobes yet, I decided to step out my comfort zone and shoot with intentional flares. I learned that flares can be attained by shooting against your light source (ergo, your subject is in front of your strobes or any light source for that matter). Flares are also affected by lens filters and even hood.
For this shoot, one strobe with a yellow gel was positioned 9 o'clock of Angela and another fill light to her 1 o'clock. 
Go experiment!

The TEAM:
Organizer: Sir Ange Bersabal
Models: Aubrey and Angela
MUA: Kaye Garino
Photogs:
the James Bautista
Ken Bandayanon (thanks for the cam!)
Jan Mante (thanks for the transpo)
Darryl Lara
Neil Merin
Hannah and Me :)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Music Playing

While waiting for my friend Karina to arrive in our meeting place in Abreeza, I heard a symphony so beautiful that it literally dragged my feet towards it. 


This is them--Asian Troubadours.
And they were serenading everyone in Abreeza last Saturday with the highest energy that will make you love instrumental and classical music instantly. They went all the way from Cebu bringing with them years of music inspiration. They have been around Metro Cebu (if I am not mistaken) since 2009 compiling 2 released albums of 'timeless Visayan and Russian Classics'.

During their performance in Abreeza, they all performed classical, modern, and even pop songs. I was even surprised when a young boy wen in front to sing Viva la Vida of Coldplay. That was I think the only non-instrumental song they did that night.

I'd love to see this orchestra play again.

Deep-eyed. The entire orchestra in rendition of Viva La Vida

Soulful yet playful. He posed when he saw me taking his photos.

You may want to visit their website at Asian Troubadours or check their Facebook account at www.facebook.com/asiantroubadour.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

TEASER

A girl will be celebrating her special day this February.
Her pictures coming soon!