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!)

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!

Well, Ain't Life Grand

This is a Thank You post.

I've been on break for 5 days but, I haven't really gotten around to truly resting and, you know, having time to sit and drink tea and contemplate about life and stuff. It's been a really busy 5 days.

But I'm putting things off right now so that I can rush-write this blog and express just how grateful I am for this year. I didn't realize how much happened - but a lot did happen. A lot changed. And I like to think that I've grown a little as a person. Or a lot. I don't know.

Every single year since I was about 12 years old, I'd come up with a list of highlights. Some sort of Top x-teen list for Year 20x-teen. Contrary to the past few posts I've shared on this blog, which were all, for some reason, centered on the fact that things haven't been too great for me, I woke up today with a strong urge to write about all the wonderful things that took place in the past year.

It was actually a pretty good one, now that I look back at it.

So, I'm sorry for not seeing things that way during the one billion moments of stress and frustration and laziness and couldn't-care-less-ness and all the other bad times this year, haha. I guess being a BS Arki junior does take it's toll on your life. It turns you into a zombie and makes you forget all the good things. HAHAHA Just kidding. But nonetheless, thank God for breaks like these, where you actually have the time to process things and re-realize that you love what you're doing and that life isn't so bad after all. #IKnowImCheesyPleaseLetMeBe

I've gone through a whole lot of photo albums and here they are, my Top 14 of 2014, arranged semi - chronologically. Haha.

 

One. Jamie's Bridal Shower & Wedding.

This was one of the most fun sleepovers in the world - held in a very pink, beautiful, secret place. Haha! It's amazing, the amount of tears you shed when it's your friend walking down the aisle. Yeah, this group will last a lifetime. :)

Two. Sagada a.k.a. The Greatest Field Trip In History.

I will never forget the happiness I felt in that cold, perfect place. It was the best trip ever, and I couldn't have been with better company. Huhu. Kakamiss.

Three. Valentines Day.

Maybe it was the post - Sagada feels but, I think our batch had the best Valentines day ever. Hahaha! The boys surprised us girls with songs and paper flowers and stuff - because we were all single and sad. Haha joke. But it really was the sweetest thing ever. :)

Four. Valentines Night.

Thank you to my other single girl friends for dragging me with them. Haha, no regrets. I needed this night. 

Five. The Initiative - WordComm Youth Mission Trip.

This trip to Tacloban was one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done in my life. We visited their school, spent time with kids and built houses for the families. 

Six. Holy Week at Tali Beach.

This was probably the best Tali Trip ever. Three families, eighteen kids and loads of fun!

To add to this, I'm also super thankful for having been given the opportunity to write for Aquazorb's travel features. You can check the Tali article here! More to come, hihihi. Life is good!

Seven. Mount Batulao.

My brother and I had a hiking date and during the climb, I realized how much he loved me. He basically dragged me to the peak. Hahaha! He held my hand as we climbed up those freakin' vertical paths of torture. Hayz. That's love.

And that's also a sign of how unfit I am and how I must work on my body next year, haha.

Eight. States.

Until now, I find it hard to believe that I was actually there for a whole month. It was a surreal experience - to be away from my family for that long and to be that far from, uhm, everything and everyone. Haha. So much happened in the States. Too many new experiences.

It was also my time. It was there that I really got to shut up and reflect about my life. God met me there and made me realize a lot of things. :) This trip served as evidence that you really have to get away to see things a little more clearly.

And that's what I plan to do a little more from now on. Haha.

Get away, I mean. <3

#Excited

Nine. Singapore.

For my birthday, I escaped again! My brother and I went on our second major date of the year, haha! We went to Singapore and had the time of our lives. Really. We did nothing but eat and explore. Something, I'd definitely want to do over.

Oh, and Singapore is a beautiful country!

Ten. Details Ink.

Details Ink has grown a lot this year. Apart from all the new products, there have been so many other new things... like, new opportunities, new projects, new followers, new artsy-business-crafter friends and new venues to inspire. This is one of the things I'm most grateful for and I'm praying that this carries over to 2015. May it be even better. :)

Eleven. #TeamBaler and #Friends.

It was one hell of a semester. Really. I don't know how much weight I lost (Kidding. I know but, I won't say. HAHA.) and I don't know how many nights I barely slept. Third year is no joke huhuhu.

So here's to the people that helped me get through the first half of it!

To Mico and Gabby, I'm super happy we were partners. Huhu best team ever.

To Anna and Lance, I'm super happy we're friends. HAHA WHAT. (But, really.)

And to Gab, I'm super happy that you.... visit Anna all the time. Hahahaha.

Yay!

Twelve. Semi - Good Health.

Good news, I didn't get sick sick this year! I did get Dengue though. For the third time in my life. Huhu. And I'm still in the process of gaining all the weight back so, before you make any more comments about how tiny I look, please know that I am trying my very best to get fat. Hihi. <3

Thirteen. The Constants of My Life.

The Elites.

Since Grade School.

The Supreme Six.

Since Birth.

The Barkada.

Since high school.

The Cangs, Pangs, De Langs.

Since forever.

The Best Barkada Ever a.k.a. My Family.

Ever since the dawn of time.

jk

I thank God every day for the people in my life - the ones that get me through life. Haha. What would I do without them huhuhu. And I know that I'm missing a lot of things, as well as people. I'll cheat and add more things I'm thankful for in this paragraph, hahaha. (And I'll cheat again because I'm simultaneously writing a list for Details Ink too. Oh, and the 14th thing on this list, I've intentionally kept secret hihihi. So yeah, that's additional stuff for me, yay for gratitude!)

Hahaha. But seriously, here's more:

• The Design Her Story Community. I owe my friend, Megan, a lot for bringing me to the conference that boosted my spirits and sparked my drive just when I needed it. 
• The Zap Tag PH Family + Ambassador-ship. I totally forgot about Zap but, yes. I'm thankful for all the opportunities and all the free food and free things and free friends that I got since I started here. Hahahaha! Yay.
• The Maker's Market Community. Details Ink has grown so much because of this. I've learned so much from all the other local makers and our events have been such fulfilling and humbling experiences. Hayz. Super happy to be a part of this. :((

There's also a lot more people to say thank you to. I'm so super sorry if I miss anyone but, it doesn't feel right to end this blog without mentioning:

• Tim Cu, Riri Rodriguez and Alfonso Ancheta for just being there and getting me through several horrible days. :)
• Again, Tim Cu and Diego Mendiola for being the best, clingiest Arch 4 seatmates in life.
• Riri Rodriguez (you deserve a solo slot) for magically appearing during all the times I needed someone I could be a brat and total girl with, for always listening and always understanding.
• Big Minimo & Diane Diaz for being my Arch 24 buddies. We did it! Hihihi. Wink wink!
• Danielle Tan for being able to take all my outbursts and breakdowns and everything - all throughout the year and every single day since I've known you. Hahaha. 
• The G People for seeing me through one of my lowest points in life without even knowing it. Hihi. I'll forever love you guys for that. :)
• Ishka Mejia for all the lovely life talks and for constantly inspiring me without even trying to do so. ;)
• Alyssa Innocencio for helping me survive Physics 71! Huhuhu. You have no idea how grateful I am. Thank you for always saving me a seat, for allowing me to sleep almost every meeting haha, for always waking me up when it's time for the seatwork and for basically re-explaining the lesson to me so I can answer it hahaha huhuhu, for all the kwento sessions that we had during the times I was actually awake in class, for always understanding my sleepless arki life and for being super galing during Recits. Hahaha, huhuhu. Oh, and thank you for your Christmas gift that super touched my heart!!! I hope this thank you note has that effect. Hihi. >:D<

Given my main list, it is now crystal clear why this wasn't my best year in terms of academics. Hehehez. Something had to suffer. But, I can't believe I even had the guts to think that this wasn't a good year altogether. Huhu. Bad Kara. This year was beautiful, huhu. And it isn't even over!

I love this feeling.

It's like there's so much in store, really.

This time last year, I wasn't exactly in a good place. I guess that makes me extra grateful now. :)

So taking into consideration all the things I've done this year, everything that's happened, the good stuff, the bad stuff... and all the stuff I almost allowed myself to take for granted; my last insight/ final thought for the year 2014, and what I want to always keep in mind, is... that LIFE IS GOOD GRAND. :)

And sometimes we have to just stop, sit down, drink tea or whatever... for us to remember that it is. <3

Here's to 2014.

May 2015 be even better!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, World! :)