Monday, October 26, 2015

Monday

There are times when my life's zest and fullness get back at me and leave me exhausted. Now would be one of those times - and I mean, now in this moment and not now as in this general time in my life.

I'm kind of tired. Exhausted, if I may.

I am starting to feel the fine line between living life to the fullest and not living at all because that is right where I am. I feel everything - every emotion that comes with every situation. 

It's all fleeting, fleeting, fleeting.
And then, nothing, nothing, nothing.

This morning, I woke up scared for an exam I was totally unprepared for. It stressed me out a lot. 

This afternoon, I was happy. Really, truly happy to have been able to share my story and inspire people through my art.

After that, I was uncomfortable, to have had a little piece of my confident, business-owner self exposed to another world, one that has not seen the side of me that is comfortable with being great.

A little later, I was upset. For no particular reason. I just was.

This evening, as I recall this rollercoaster of a day, try to arrange my plans this week and endeavor to stay on top of all my commitments and deadlines and duties and responsibilities and tasks and projects and dreams and everything I have voluntarily gotten myself into - I feel nothing again. This is the good kind of nothing though. The nothing that's about to be a whole lot of something's. The stop before the go. The calm before my night's storm. The pause.

It's a lovely Monday evening. I am currently sitting back with a cup of coffee, staring at my life and all its aspects and I am thinking to myself: where the hell do I begin?

Sunday, September 13, 2015

September Thirteen

Here is something I posted on my old blog two years ago, for two people that are very dear to my heart. :) Reposting it now because, well, it's September 13 again. That was fast, huh? Haha. Anyway, to Mae and Jasper, who are both somewhere in California right now, happy, happy birthday. <3 Enjoy re-reading this. Haha.

- - - - - -
To be honest, I’ve been struggling for quite a while, trying to figure out how to start this blog entry. How do you start talking about people that have made such a big impact on your life? Or people that have inspired you as much as these two inspired me?
You just do, I guess. You just start typing out exactly what pops into your head and try to be as honest as possible.
Well, here goes an attempt to do exactly that.
- - - - - -
First, there’s Samantha Mae Coyiuto.
Many of you have probably heard that name before. I met her when I was only grade 3 and even then, she was already better than most of us. I was busy climbing trees back then and she was already writing and publishing story books! However, aside from the fact that she has already written 4 books (I think it's 6 already, cause she just published another one last month!), writes her own column in the Philippine Star, graduated part of the Top 10 of the batch, started her own foundation to promote literacy in the Philippines, endorsed a big time sports brand and… can you believe it… did all of that before she turned 18, she’s still that clumsy, bubbly, baby girl I met and love so much.
It’s her humility that inspired me, along with so many other people. Until today, I find it so hard to comprehend how she managed to do all those things and still find the time to eat pizza with her best friends. To add to that, during all those sleepovers we’ve had, I never felt even the slightest trace of pride. Although she, of all people, had the right to boast, she never did. And even if she had all the power to make everyone around her feel so, so small, she never did. She did the exact opposite actually. Mae has always had this way of making people feel special. Her novel – text messages and letters are almost 100% effective… ask anyone. They’ll surely agree with me.
In short, Mae is beautiful.
In the purest and most basic sense.
————————————————————
Next, we have Jasper Tan.
You may have also heard of this name before, as he has several videos posted on Youtube. He is, hands down, one of the most talented musicians I have ever known. And I believe in my heart that he is a musical prodigy because I have witnessed his expertise one too many times. He can play better versions of everything on the piano and almost every other musical instrument. He is the genius behind all the nice songs I have that are posted online. Oh, and I don’t think anyone knows my flaws as a singer more than he does. Recording with me is probably very tedious for him because, honestly, I make a lot of mistakes. Every time I laugh, cough, or mess up the lyrics, we have to repeat. He does all the technical work and I usually just stand there, without any tech-y knowledge to contribute. However, what I love most about our recording sessions is the conversation that squeezes itself  in between all the playing and singing.
Jasper’s the type of person that really listens. You can usually tell while you’re talking. If you feel they’re not really listening, you shorten your story and eventually stop. Now, the problem when people truly listen is that, well, it gets really hard to stop. So, I sometimes find myself sharing so much about so many random things. Things I didn’t expect to even bring up with him. But if I were to judge him just by conversations we have, I would already be able to say so much. He’s a real gentleman. Sweet. Super thoughtful. Caring. Loves his family. Loves God. Respects girls. Notices all the small things. If you had the chance to talk to him, I bet you’d be able to say all that about him and more.
Now, humility is something Jasper and Mae have in common. When you stand in a room with him, you really wouldn’t think he’s as talented as he is. Or that he owns the biggest bee in the country! Can anyone really have all that and be all that but have not a single tinge of “air”?
Well.
This guy is living proof.
- - - - - -
Coincidentally, both of them are celebrating their birthdays today.
I guess God felt so good on the 13th of September, that He decided to bless the world with not one but, two great people.
And here I am, trying to figure out what I did right… to have been given the opportunity know them.
:)
————————————————————

Happy birthday, Mae and Jasper!

Love and miss you both!
— The End —

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Where All the Bad July Feels Are Hidden


It seems that almost every month, I have to renew my decision to be a much bigger person than I actually am. I have to sit down with myself - and God - and internalize the fact that I can't go on a certain way. There's always something that I'm doing that I shouldn't be doing; something I'm feeling that I shouldn't be feeling. There's always something I have to let go of but, can't. There's always hurt when there shouldn't be. And I don't know why.

I could be doing a lot of things and over the years I've listed over a hundred ways to change the world. So, why am I not pouring my heart out on those things instead? I really don't know.

There was a moment yesterday morning when everything sort of cleared up before me and all I could see was a question. What the hell am I doing? Pining after something that's already gone. Mourning the loss of my anchor when it should have never been my anchor in the first place. Struggling to wrap my head around a change that took place right before my eyes and trying to figure out why I moved forward when I knew perfectly well what was ahead of me.

What am I doing?

This? I knew this would happen.

Anyway, that moment of clarity also came with a tremendous calm. Quiet. Inhale, exhale. And then, nothing.

I felt nothing.

And nothing was the best thing I felt in a while.

Inhale, exhale. It's gone. It's gone. It's gone... And it's time.

So here I am again. It's July now.

I'm sitting down. By myself. There is a random creepy looking fellow across me but, whatever. I'm sitting down by myself.

I have to be bigger than this. I cannot go on like this. I shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't be feeling this. I have to let go of this. This isn't worth it.

Inhale, exhale.

There are bigger things. Other bigger things. Which I have not paid any attention to in a long while. And I guess it's finally time to put time and effort where it's due.

Mind over Matter mode, on.
Head over Heart mode, on.
Stone mode, on.

There. Done.
Inhale, exhale. 








Tuesday, June 2, 2015

One Week Off



"The best remedy for those who are lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be." - Anne Frank

After five months of hard work and architecture-induced stress, a couple of batchmates and I decided to spend seven days at Roxas City, Capiz - Cai's hometown. That's a whole week of resting, sleeping, swimming, eating and watching time go by so slowly.

This is making me think. While I've been busting my ass off in Arki school every single day back in Manila, others have been enjoying long, slow hours of just sitting and being with their families by the beach. Why the hell do we work so fast and so hard back there? A classic City vs. Country thing. And me, I grew up with  trees and fresh fruits and waterfalls and basically got forced into a condominium when I was thirteen. So, I'd choose to relive my childhood any day.

I'm neither lonely nor unhappy but, I am kind of tired. Okay, I'm really tired. So yeah, I do wanna just be outside - quiet,with nature and with God. Right now, my friends are everywhere... and I'm here:


Up on a balcony, sitting on a rocking chair and literally breathing everything in. We did it. I can't believe we did it. We survived third year and celebrated by taking a week off. And right now, in this moment, all is as it should be. :)

Love, Kara



Sunday, May 31, 2015

Third Year Second Sem


Tomorrow is the last time I'm ever gonna have to submit anything for third year. I cannot believe it. Afterwards, I am going to breathe. And escape to Capiz for a whole week!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! But before that, I really want to take a moment to let things sink in. Third. Year. Is. Over.


:)

That's my favorite team and our amazing professor in the photo above. MLK and Sir Joson. Along with my amazing final plate partner and good friend, Raisa, they played a giant part of this sem. I am super duper grateful, huhuhu.


For the first plate, Mico, Lance and I (MLK haha so creative) designed a 5 star business hotel called The Orient. We loved our giant twisted building with all our hearts huhu. Although they're probably the two most sabaw people in the batch, they're two of the most talented arki students I've ever worked with........ naks. ok. bye.


And here's our final plate. The Caticlan Internal Airport. :) I think Raisa and I super loved working on this because of how much we both learned in the process hihihi. Legit. We forced Photoshop, CAD and Sketchup down our throats in maybe just a week in order to come up with the 20x30 PDF boards that Sir Joson required. In the end though, we legit happy. We could have done better, as is always the case, but, I think we were pretty happy. Huhuhuhu yay. Below are some detail photos the model.






Note: Everything looks better in black and white! That's why... yeah.

Anyway, this sem really pushed me to my breaking point. Twice, if I'm not mistaken. But according to my wonderful Legally Blonde mantra...

"Even if I crash and burn ten times a day, I think I'm here to stay. I'm gonna find my way." :)

Here's to junior year...
and our our week-long, post-sem celebration at the beach!

Love, Kara

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Happy Weekend: Day Two


1. My Saturday started off with the last event for JMA KIDS: our long awaited food session! :) We taught them to make pizza rolls and graham balls. They enjoyed a lot and the day ended with everyone happily tired but, really fulfilled. 

2. I dated myself at Third Cup Cafe afterwards. Needed it. I had around two hours for myself. Felt great.


3. At around 2pm, my friend Tim picked me up and, for the second time, we went to Wanderland. Haha. Pretty good day. I painted a twig!!

My ultimate favorites were Lewis Watson, BP Valenzuela, Augustana and... okay fine... Kid Cudi was alright. Hahaha. Although I didn't understand a word he said! Haha.


3. The night ended with these two. Carla and Nigel. Plus Carla's cousin Ren. And out of nowhere, we went to ADHOC to support our org, haha. In our Wanderland getups, we marched into the SMX convention center and spent the next hour enjoying and saying hi to the world, despite how tired we all were, and we finally headed home at around 2am. I think. Haha.

And although today didn't turn out as great as I had hoped, there is... hope. Haha. Today, I will work hard. Or at least try to. After the last past two days, I think I'm left with no choice. Haha. But, ok fine. Time to hit to drawing board!

Have a pleasant Sunday evening!


Saturday, April 25, 2015

Happy Weekend: Day One

"The illusion of happy-chillness has been shattered. Time to act accordingly."

That's what I said in my last blog... but, before that, I sort of made a commitment to chillage. We're prepping for our finals, yes. Work is piling up and in a few days, I'll probably be tempted to complain about everything again. Or, I probably will. However, I learned a lesson from some classmates of mine.

See, some of them who live in the provinces like to go home on weekends. They work four to five days a week. Sometimes six. And after that? They go home to their families and rest. Breathe. Sleep. They prepare for the next week of hell that is to come. Hahaha.

I kind of like that idea. Weekends are supposed to be for resting, right? Right.

So, yeah. Yay!

Please allow me this small happiness of, well, still having glimpses of summer. This weekend's off to a good start thanks to an afternoon of super hot but, fun construction on site and Asaphil's Craft dinner to end the day! Weehee.





So, yes. I guess I'm just blogging because of this strange post-dinner happy bug that seemed to have affected us all. Haha. Ha. Okay.

(Thank you to Erka for the photos hihihi)

You know, stuff like this make me wonder why we choose to put ourselves through so much stress. Why do we push ourselves so much? ...when we all know that it really is so much better to just... not do that.

Okay, cool. I'm watching Grey's Anatomy now too and she just said this:

"Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer? ...because it feels so good when I stop."

:)

There you have it, I guess.

Goodnight, everyone. :)







Sunday, April 19, 2015

Someone Fix Me

Because I know I can do so much better than this. :(

Maybe it's because I've realized that you really don't have to prove anything to any prof or person or anyone in general.

Or because I know that you'll still make it in life even if you're no longer the best or if you no longer have the unos to back up your claims to actually have a little talent.

Or because I would rather go to the beach and sleep under the stars instead of doing my work and not sleeping at all.

Or because I take comfort in the fact that I'm technically not supposed to stress myself out at all - those are doctor's orders which I disobey 24/7 - so, given the choice between pushing and sleeping, I choose the latter. Health first, right?

So many excuses.
Too many.

Well, it's about time life gave me what I deserved. The illusion of happy-chillness has been shattered. Time to act accordingly.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Must Get Back To Work

(Was supposed to post this last Saturday!)


Tali is really one of my favorite places in life. We come back every year during Holy Week and it's our second time for the Alegre family to join us. Imagine three days of swimming in the ocean, reading and writing and thinking by the shore, on banigs with good music, good company and an endless supply of coke and beer and Zesto... huhu life is good.

Now, how to let that all go...


See, that is not the life that I chose. I chose a wonderful life of drafting until the wee hours of the morning, struggling through countless blank pages, with a pen in hand, until you have even a fraction of an idea of a possible design, frustration to the max, and an ongoing battle with the natural tiredness of your own body. It's always you vs the sloth in you - and on most nights, the latter wins.

Like tonight.

I promise to at least make a to do list before I crash into this beatiful scene that has been tempting me for hours.

I promise to wake up tomorrow and work the whooole day to make up for my week long vacation.

I promise to... no. What's the point? :)) I totally enjoyed the past week. Felt more passion for architecture than I did in a while and I am so, so grateful for that. Ironically, this time away from school has caused me to feel more strongly about being architect in the future. When I'm on my own and away from the stress of school, it seems as though I'm free to love architecture more. Strange.

However, I guess that in order to do what I want to do, I kind of have to suck this up. I just have to reset the whole framework of this and pretend that nothing in my list of things to do is graded and they're all just random life tasks that I have to do to be the architect I want to be. Yes!

Maybe, that'll help. Maybe.
Okay, wait.
I can't.
I give up.

Tonight, the sloth wins.
Better luck tomorrow.

I miss Tali.
Ugh.


Monday, March 30, 2015

What To Do With One Week Off


HELLO THERE, I CHOPPED MY HAIR!

 Haha. I've finally gathered enough courage to push through with having my super long hair cut and donating it to Kythe. After having done so, I received some messages from worried friends, asking if everything was alright.

Apparently, the past few times I did something drastic with my hair were during horrible seasons in my life. Or during times when I was simply fed up with the, uhm, horrible-ness of things that I needed some drastic change to make it all better. Changing my hair seemed to be synonymous to changing my life. Haha. Dramatic. But, yes, it is what I would resort to during those times.

This time, however, I have nothing horrible to report, thank God - apart from the month of overwhelming stress in school, of course. Nonetheless, my new hair has still pushed me to improve a few other things in my life, the same way it did before. So, yes, I had a long overdue FML session.
Yay! (FML means Fix My Life hihihi)

Yesterday was Palm Sunday - the official first day of the Holy Week break. I went to church for the first time in a while. Good timing. The amazingly fierce Miss Celia Rodriguez shared her equally amazing story. I had no idea she had gone through all that she had. I guess it was her story that placed me in such a reflective mood. I started thinking about my life and whether or not God was still present in it. Do I even leave any room for Him? Ever? Hm.

The past month has left me exhausted. Since our plate submission almost two weeks ago, I have been having such beautiful nights sleeping in my bed, under thick blankets, with air-conditioning and recently, with chamomile scented oil burning over a candle. My body seems to be making up for a month of horrible sleeping patterns. Haha, yay.

I've been waking up to slow mornings that begin at 10 am - and that's usually the time I catch up on the other tasks I have to cross off my list - there are many, still. Time's slower when there's no deadline. I realized that after our design presentation when there was suddenly time to breathe... 

But, what am I talking about,
I DO HAVE DEADLINES!!!
March 31 Final Tattoo Design
April 6 Arch 5 Sketchup Project
April 9 First Design Consultation

There's actually just one thing I want to share. This blog has one point, which I've diverted from because of whatever, and that point is... that changing my hair resulted to my wanting to change my life, and not the other way around. The usual effect has now become the cause. And that's why I ended up checking out my original new year's resolutions and, please don't judge me, monthly themes. I got inspired when I started reading The Happiness Project again. And I guess I just wanted to write a bit about them yucky cheesy-but-useful monthly themes. Hihi.

JANUARY | Plan
Obviously, January was when I listed all my goals for the year. I'm turning twenty-one this year. I have to prepare myself to turn my dream age. Hahaha. But, yeah. I do want my third year to be my best year, just as it was in high school.

FEBRUARY | Love
Holding in unnecessary complaints and negative comments; being extra understanding and patient with the other person; and choosing not to make him feel guilty about being late - were some of the things I did this month. Lucky it was valentine's season and his birthday month as well. Haha, it was fun.

MARCH | Deliver
I almost chose finish over deliver but, I think the latter is more apt. Because of the academic calendar shift, March is the new midterms month. As previously stated, we just submitted our design plate - which is the basically the biggest aspect we have to deliver in, as Arki students. Apart from that, I had to deliver in Details Ink projects as well. (I also had to deliver literally, as there are still quite a number of unclaimed Darth Vader shirts. Hayz) But, yeah. Anyway...

It is almost April. 

School is not going to end until May but, I refuse to stress out and underperform the way I in the first half of this sem. Really, I was just so lazy to do anything. I crammed and procrastinated and fell asleep when I wasn't supposed to... but, hey. No regrets. I had a lot of fun. And I plan to do the same thing this month! It's looking great, as I have three trips to look forward to already! <3 I'm happy. Really. I feel excited about life again. And because I have not worked in the last few days, I'm actually excited to work again! But, this month I promised myself to commit to the following theme:

APRIL | Chill
Yes, this month, I plan to chill. There are lots of chill events to look forward to: beach trips and music festivals included BUT, in order to be able to truly chill, I know that I have to work hard to manage time well. No more rushing in the morning cause I wasn't able to do something the night before! No more stressing over unnecessary hassles in life. So, yeah. I want to move at a slower pace and get more things done. I want to be more productive and more efficient so that I can have time to sit and drink with beautiful people in beautiful places. This month, I will make time for life stuff.
(As if I haven't been doing enough of that! Hihihi I can't wait.)

Thank you, my dear haircut, for serving as an FML prompt!

Time to enjoy another evening with my pens and papers, hot tea,
a chamomile scented room and my happy short hair. Hihihi.
(Sorry, it's just so light, I love it so much. Huhu. Ok, bye.)

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Second Month, Second Chance


"If our feelings control our actions,
it is because we have abdicated our responsibility
and empowered them to do so."

7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey

Thank God January is over.

Let's just say that I let my emotions get ahead of me one too many times in the past weeks. It wasn't fun. In fact, it made me miss out on a lot of fun.

I chose to see half - empty glasses, to assume the worst, and to allow irrational thoughts to paralyze me. I allowed doubt to creep in and taint all the pretty pictures in my head - and sometimes, I actually believed that those tainted pictures were the real ones.

Despite all the good things that came with the new month and new year, I'm not particularly proud of myself and the way I handled things.

I could have done better.
I could have been better.

And last month was good - but, it could have been better too.

My fault.

So, no.
No more.

It's a new month and I will make better choices.
And, no.

I will not see half - empty glasses.
I will not assume the worst.
I will not entertain irrational thoughts.
I will not doubt.

Not this month.

Not ever again.

(no promises)

Thursday, January 15, 2015

A Glimpse of Project Life



Last weekend, I was invited to attend a workshop by Life Documented Manila - a little team of scrapbook lovers that sell super cute craft  products and share everything you need to know about completing your own album. I met 2/3 of their team at the #DesignHerStory conference some time last year.

That moment is quite hard to forget because, well, I had been following LDM for a while already so, when I saw them I got starstruck pleasantly surprised. I ran over there with a little too much excitement and introduced myself and apparently, they were also followers of Details Ink. The other participants simply walked past us as we fan-girl-ed over each other. Haha! 

Months later, I attended my first Project Life workshop under them and left, completely satisfied and just thrilled to continue the work I started there. Let me tell you all about it. Hihihi.

Wait, no.
Let me show you!
:)



We were asked to bring our own 4x6 photos but, they basically gave us everything else, including: 120+ printed cards and a 6x8 Project Life Album. They offered something called a "Craft Buffet", an entire table filled with stamps, stickers, washi tape, papers, inks that we were allowed to use during the session! I died. Hahaha. I was so overwhelmed with the choices, that I might have stood there and stared for over a minute...

See, I used to collect all these supplies too. I would hoard pens, and scrap book embellishments, and although I'd hardly use them, - because I was saving them for a special occasion that never came - just having them in my big box made me such a happy kid. Haha! And when I actually did have the time, I'd make things. Lots of things. I'd make super detailed, hand crafted birthday letters for friends, Christmas cards or whatnot but, my main use for those hoarded items was to decorate my yearly hand-made planner. Haha! I miss that. There's barely any time to fill up a store-bought planner nowadays. :(

My old planners look like scrap books. 

Some people may think it's way too cheesy or that it's a total waste of time and money but, I disagree. Completely. When I look back at those planners, I see tiny details of my life at that time and seeing it makes me remember. And that is why I love doing this. 

It's because I never ever want to forget.
That's one of my fears, actually.
I don't want to forget the things my high school friends and I would do during breaks, the people I'd run to when I hated life, what I really felt during prom night, and even that break through I had while in the bathroom. 

I want to remember everything.

That's why I thing stuff like this is so important.
That's why I keep a journal.
That's why I take my planner way too seriously, haha.
And that's why I really, really love Project Life.
Or documenting life in general.

Huhuhu Thank you Becky Higgins! <3




When I started my album, I couldn't decide on a specific theme. I never finished scrapbooks in the past because it was quite difficult to fill all the pages with "My 13th Birthday" or any one event. So, I thought of making a super general theme: something I could continue where I left off without worrying about consistency or flow...

My Project Life album is now my Happy Book.
Hihihi.

Am I the most boring person alive? Huhu.

But, yeah! It legit made me happy though.

I want to fill it up with moments of all kinds and I'd be able to look through it when I hate life and realize that I actually love it. Haha. In the workshop, I learned not to be so afraid to write on my pictures. So, I did. A lot. Haha.



I included the stories that those photos came with. Like in this one above, there was a mudslide in Mt. Batulao when I brother and I were up there so, we literally reveled in the dirt. We took are shoes off and slid down the hills, the way we used to when we were kids. Afterwards, we were dirty. It was gross. We looked gross. Haha! But we were so, so happy. :)


The photos above were taken on another adventure I had with Timo. This time, we went to Singapore. The photo below was taken when we met a few ladies at Little India who did our Henna Tattoos and told us all about the area. 

Simple moments like those are the ones I'd want to remember, actually. Good conversations, days and places that made me feel peace... stuff like that.


Another thing I like about attending workshops is that I feel so distant from my world. Generally, I love being in places when I don't really know anyone and no one really knows me. There's a little freedom in that. Strangely, it's in those cases where I'm more confident to talk to people.

I really love talking to strangers. Haha.

Anyway, my table mates were two new mommies! They seemed like they were very good friends. It was so cute. They were so excited about documenting the growth of their new kids. And I feel like I saw my future self... Hahaha. Because to be honest, I really feel like I'm gonna be the best mommy in the world. (haha sorry but, I'm really not joking because I really feel like that is my true calling haha okay goodbye)


I think I did an okay job as a Project Life beginner. Now the challenge is gonna be finding time to sit down and continue what I started and hopefully, finishing it. :)

Life Documented Manila is holds workshops regularly! You should check their site! Hihihi.

Thank you, LDM, for having me and for reigniting my love for this beautiful form of art!

Love,
#HappyKara
:)



Monday, January 12, 2015

This Week's Happy Thing : Kinfolk Magazine


I like clean - looking things.

Black and white.
Pastel colors.
Neutral colors.
Wood.
Cream.

(Details Ink is an exception. That is my style.)
(That's how I draw on a normal day and nope, I don't get it either.)
(Haha.)

Anyway, last year at some beautiful shop at Singapore, I came across a magazine called Kinfolk and basically fell in love with it right there and then. It was and is the cleanest magazine I have ever seen. Haha!

Really. Clean is the word my mind has permanently associated it with.

Unintentionally, I promise.

As I flipped through the pages, I was happy to have fallen in love even more - not only with the pictures and overall aesthetics of the magazine but, with its substantial content.

I was never really a fan of magazines. Ever.
And that's because I always felt like it lacked something.

(Substance. I realized that most magazines have no substance.)

So.

If you want to read about something real...

Like real people.
with real passions,
real struggles.
and real stories.

If you want to learn about beauty...

And, I mean, true beauty.
Like the beauty of sleeping in.
Or having a day gone totally wrong.
Or taking a day off to escape life.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that...

if you aren't into Top Tens, What's Hots and What's Nots,
if it isn't your goal in life to look like a celebrity,

 if you're a cheesy i - love - life type of person.
if you like simple and clean looking things,
if you like hiding from people and staying in,

and if you're anything like me,





I think you'll like this magazine.

:)

(Thank you to my Kris Kringle Mommy, Rejean Tee, for your beautiful Christmas gift!)

Friday, January 9, 2015

It's All About the Planner ft. The Daykeeper 2015 Journal


(Disclaimer. I am not a photographer. For this feature, however, I really pretended to be one. Hahaha!)
(Ang ganda kasi talaga.)
(And I've decided to blog more about the random #happythings)

Last month, I met two girls at the Carousel Carvan Pop Up at The Urban Food Collective in Alabang. They were two tables away from the Details Ink booth and during one of the bazaar "down times" - you know, those lulls wherein suddenly there are absolutely no people in the area/ those times when shop owners go around and get to know the neighbors - I stopped by and said hi.

"What are you guys selling", I asked.
One eagerly replied by saying "We sell Daykeeper Journals",
And her proud friend interrupted with "She made them!"

To be honest, I only heard of this journal from the Instagram posts of artsy people and some bloggers but, I had never seen it until then. And oh my gosh, I fell in love. I don't know how many times I went back and forth from my store to theirs just to flip through it. Again and again, I did so. I was contemplating whether or not I deserved to splurge that day.

For me or someone else?
Do I deserve this?
Was I good this year?
Will I use it well and make it worth it?

Those thoughts really popped into my head while looking through it... and well, I had ended up spending Php 950.00 for a wonderful 2015 planner which I ended up giving to myself for Christmas. Hihi.

I deserve this.
I deserve this.
I deserve this.
( I had to convince myself for weeks.)

Anyway, for those of you who are still looking for a 2015 planner... I think it's not too late! These planners are sold at Heima but, if I'm not mistaken, you can order straight from them. Just check @thedaykeeper on Instagram or on Facebook!


It was designed by Kat San Juan and as seen throughout the pages, she's a photographer and wedding videographer. See, the pictures in this planner were all taken during her travels, all over the world. I guess she used The Daykeeper as a means to inspire people to lead beautiful lives as well. Huhu. Saya.


The planner provides two pages per week. An actually date book on one side and a space to write the "Things That Made Me Smile Today" on the other. I ended up using one side as a journal type of thing. Bullets and lists on one side and words and doodles on the other, for me.

What I like about it is that, well, it looks it popped right out of Tumblr - or like you've got a Pinterest board right in your hands! I'm actually pretty excited for school - for a time when I'll have to right the most horrendous task on such a beautiful page in the planner... it might actually help me get things done! Haha. I guess all of us could use a daily dose of inspiration... from anywhere. So for me, I got it because I really want to inject happy things in my every day life and I know that scheduling exams on a pretty planner might just help me get through it.

I don't know if it's a good thing but, I think the turnout of my year has a lot to do with my planner for that year... and that sounds completely insane, I am totally aware. Hm. But, you know that line by Carrie Bradshaw?

"It's all about the desk. If you pick the right desk, the writing will come."
Or something like that.

Much like... how an artist can't draw well unless, he has his preferred pen and paper. I, for example, cannot doodle at my best unless my pens are Pilot G-Techs or Unipins. Some even need the right paper! Point is, we all have, sometimes borderline irrational, specifications that we deem necessary in order to complete a certain process well. 

In this case, or should I say, in last year's case, my planner and I didn't click so much. It was my first time to actually buy one - since, I usually choose a good notebook and make my own. I just didn't feel it. For some reason. I didn't even complete. it! (And my high school friends will know how much of a crime that is for me) So consequently, it messed up my plans. Hihi.

Yes, my clever, super-rational self is blaming her planner for her messed up year.
Hehez.

Anyway, the only reason I shared that is that I needed to build up on the fact that... I think I click with this planner. <3 Hahaha. Basically, I realized last year that for me, planners play quite a significant role in each year - if I get the right planner, I'll plan the year well. (Hopefully, there are other people our there who feel the same way, haha.) But even if my Daykeeper and I lose that connection mid-year, I'll be fine knowing that I have a Kinfolk-like book right in my bag that I can pick up anytime when I need a lift during the day. Hahaha.

Ok, to be perfectly honest, the only point of this feature is to showcase the fact that Kat San Juan is quite a genius for creating such a simple, inspirational beauty. And yeah, I really just wanted to share that beauty with everyone. So here are my pseudo-photographer shots of #thedaykeeper, listed as reasons why The Daykeeper is the one for me this 2015. <3


It has my favorite color!


There are beautifully laid out photos on random pages.
Tumblr in a planner, basically.
Lots of adventure photos!


Many of the photos include powerful insights and quotes.
Huhu. I love that.


It has such happy add-ons, including:
a letter to yourself to be read at the end of the year,
"field notes from this grand adventure called life",
a manifesto with typography done by Abbey Sy,
a handy kraft pocket at the back,
and 4 pretty black and white post cards.




I also love weekly bible verses, as well as this last one from the book of Esther, which is on the last page, I think. It's one of the verses that really make you want to live more and, you know, *insert cheesy but, true life stuff here.*

Today is January 9, 2015.

I've been working hard in the last week to meet deadlines, finish off projects from last year and also because I want to focus on architecture once school starts. Gotta refuel the fire on that end.

And that's why for the past week, I've been on a personal planning seminar with myself. Haha! So, I'm thankful and excited for this year. My Daykeeper and I will be working very closely, just like old times! Yay!

(It works the opposite way for me: my planners are usually full during school days and blank on my summer days. In other words, they are full when I'm on fire and blank when I am lazy. Last year, it was quite blank... all year - which was quite alarming for me, because I knew deep down that I was just passing through everything and was just totally lazy to be on fire... for anything. If you know what I mean. That laziness is also evident in my grades last sem. Hayz. Not being on fire isn't me - I'm an all-giver, huhu. So, I won't do that again. Hihi, my fingers are crossed for next year!)

Anyway, here's to all our hopes and dreams for the year and to all the resolutions we will probably break next week! Haha. Hope we all stay driven, nonetheless and that we all have just as much fun carrying our plans out as we did while making them. :)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Love,
Kara

PS. Stay tuned for the Details Ink website launch! Finally got my own domain name!! <3
January 31, ok? ok!