Patchwork Chair/Blue Monday

 I'd love to have this set in my living room.  Found this patchwork-covered chair and footstool set in one of the booths at the Manila F.A.M.E.  Some blues to share with Sally  at Blue Monday.

Marine treasures/Thursday Brownies

@ mirandablue

Treasures from the sea---real barnacles adorn the base of this table lamp with woven dyed abaca shade, a tea-light candle holder crafted from brass and sea urchin shell.

Join Gzel at Thursday Brownies

Recycled bottles [Blue Monday]

One of the most attractive aspects of glass is the way it plays with light.  The chandeliers made from recycled blue bottles caught my attention at K.K.K., a Filipino restaurant at Megamall.  I find them funky.

Linking to Blue Monday

Orange Tuesday: Home decor

@ mirandablue

A matching display of jars and charger made of inlaid sea shells, and laminated in clear resin. Handcrafted from a company based in Bacolod City.

Join us at Orange Tuesday

Footbridge

@ mirandablue

I was in a parking lot late Saturday night when I noticed the construction across the street.  They're constructing two new towers in the Mall of Asia grounds, a reclaimed land along Manila Bay.  These buildings would have a 160 degrees unobstructed view of the bay with its famous sunset.  A footbridge connects the two buildings.

@ mirandablue

Posted for Sunday Bridges

Glass chandelier [Ruby Tuesday]

@ mirandablue

I hunted antique shops late last year looking for side tables with inlaid mother-of-pearl.  At Jo Liza Antique Shop in Megamall, I spotted this beautiful red glass chandelier and wished my apartment is big enough for this chandelier!  Maybe someday---it's OK to dream.:p

This post is linked to Ruby Tuesday

Last hurrah [Ruby Tuesday & My World]

@ mirandablue

The Christmas celebration officially ended on Sunday, the feast of the Epiphany for Catholics.  Most of the Christmas decor has been taken down and kept in storage. Here's the last glimpse of the decorations that made our Christmas party a more festive affair.  This is at the home of a co-worker who graciously welcomed the whole gang into his home.  Thank you, Ding!

@ mirandablue

Posted for Ruby Tuesday and My World Tuesday

Colorful [Makulay]

@ mirandablue

Ito ang makulay at kakaibang interior ng lumang Cafe Juanita, isang restaurant sa Pasig.  Lumipat na kasi ang Cafe Juanita pero malapit lang naman ang nilipatan sa dating lugar.  Isa ito sa mga paborito kong restaurants---masarap ang pagkain, abot-kaya ang presyo at kakaiba ang ambiance dito.  Mas maaliwalas ang bagong Cafe Juanita at nandon pa rin ang kakaibang interior design.  Pero nakaka-miss ang intimate at kitschy charm ng lumang Cafe Juanita.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

@ mirandablue

This is the colorful and unusual interior of the old Cafe Juanita, a restaurant in Pasig.  Cafe Juanita had transferred to a new address just across its old location.  This is one of my favorite restaurants---they serve delicious food at affordable prices, and I love the ambiance here.    The new Cafe Juanita is more spacious and the eccentric interiors that has become its signature are still there.  But I miss the intimate and kitschy charm of the old Cafe Juanita.

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1)  What is the color of your toenails?
2)  What's the last event you dressed up for?

The Nutcracker at the Fiesta Market [My World and Ruby Tuesday]

@ mirandablue

The Fiesta Market is an outdoor market area of Market! Market!, a mall in Global City, Taguig.  It has regional food stalls where I go when I have cravings for native delicacies like kwakoy, mango tart, lengua de gato and other favorites like dried squid, roasted coffee from Bukidnon, and Vigan empanada.  It has the freshness of a Sunday street market where you can find fresh vegetables and fruits, flowers and seafoods.   There is also a hawker's area where you can sample various Filipino food--from pork BBQ to halo-halo, lechon, fish kinilaw, pancit habhab and dinuguan.  Fiesta Market also has  a well-stocked rice vendor and wine stores.  

Separated by a fountain is Market! Market!'s Christmas display---The Nutcracker.   This  attracts kids an adults alike.  Standing beside a bunch of kids, I was as fascinated by a life- size Clara dancing with her prince, with larger-than-life rotating nutcracker and a host of animated characters.

@ mirandablue

@ mirandablue

@ mirandablue

@ mirandablue

 

Posted for Ruby Tuesday and My World-Tuesday

Private [Pribado]

@ mirandablue

Karamihan sa atin ay may kanya-kanyang pribadong santwaryo.  Isang sulok sa bahay o ligtas na lugar na pwedeng manihimik, magmuni-muni o magkape at magbasa ng walang istorbo.   May kilala ako na banyo ang kanyang dakong banal.  Doon s'ya tumatakbo kapag gusto n'yang mag-isip at syempre maligo.:p  Karamihan sa confessional ang punta kung saan pribado ang usapan (sigurado ka bang hindi bugged ang confessional?:p).  Ang iba naman dumederecho na para walang taong  makakarinig sa mga hiling nila.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

@ mirandablue

Most of us have their own private sanctuary.  A corner at home or a safe place where we can spend some quiet time, meditate, enjoy our coffee and read in peace.  I know somebody whose private sanctuary is their bathroom.  It's his place of refuge when he needs to think or solve some problems.  Others go to the confessional where everything is private ( are you sure the confessional is not bugged? :p), while some of us pray directly so no man would hear our petitions.

For Thursday Two Questions:
1.  Where is your private sanctuary?
2.  Do you build walls around yourself, around those closest to you, and around your heart to feel secure?

LP: Teknolohiya [technology]

Isa ang kanyon sa tatlong itinuring na tagumpay ng New Age noong Middle Ages---ang dalawa ay ang compass at printing press.  Unang ginamit ang kanyon ng mga Tsino noong Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) at lumaganap ito sa Europe at sa Middle East sa pamamagitan ng Silk Road.  Magmula Middle Ages hanggang ngayon, patuloy ang paglikha ng teknolohiya sa mas makabagong armas.  Unahan ang mga mayayamang bansa sa pag-imbento ng pinakamalakas  at nakakamatay na armas---hindi lang mortar at baril, kundi pati na rin  sa larangan ng biotechnology. Nagsimula ang tao sa palakol at sibat, ngayon meron ng intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) na ang range ay hanggang 5,500 kilometers, at may  kakayanan sa biological and chemical warfare.  Nakakatakot isipin kung saan tayo hahantong dahil sa teknolohiya.

Sang-ayon ako sa sinabi ni Einstein:  "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Mga larawan ng mortars sa Corregidor na nilagay ng mga Americano at ginamit noong World War II laban sa mga Hapon.

During the Middle Ages,  there were three inventions that were declared the triumph of the New Age---the cannon, the compass and the printing press.  The cannon was first used by the Chinese during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), and it made its way to Europe and the Middle East through the Silk Road.  Since the Middle Ages,  people continue to create innovative weapons technology.  Rich countries race in the  creation of  the most lethal and powerful weapon--not just firearms, missiles and mortars, but also in the field of biotechnology.  Humans started with axes and spears, now we have the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers, and have the technology for biological and chemical warfare.  It is scary to think where we are headed because of technology.

Einstein is right when he said, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

These are photos of mortars in Corregidor, installed by the Americans and were used during World War II against the Japanese.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Broken [Photo Hunt]

Who said that crushed windshields and glass are useless and belong to the junk pile? Naturally, we want to get rid of those sharp and dangerous fragments. But before throwing away a broken glass, think of the tons of glass bottles and jars buried into our landfills each day. Recycling glass is an excellent way to reduce waste, save construction costs and help the environment.

I know somebody who transforms broken pieces of tempered glass into beautiful functional home accessories. A hobby that turned into a business. These candle holders are hand-crafted from broken windshields---these pieces are colorful and rough; they're perfectly imperfect, and there in lies the charm.

Posted for Photo-Hunt

A live plant and Feng Shui

hanging purple flowers in Seattle

I had a hectic weekend and nothing to show for it---except for a more spacious bedroom after I've repacked my "winter" clothes to a bigger luggage. Moving to a new apartment certainly takes a lot of energy and time, not to mention money.

It's been 2 weeks since I transferred to a new apartment. I gave away a lot of old books, furniture, wall decor, clothes, shoes and bags and I'm still left with a lot of junk. As I unpacked a few more boxes yesterday, I realized just how many gifts of plates, bowls, cups and saucers and wine glasses I got all these years. I felt like a newly-wed rummaging through the wedding gifts!:p

The new apartment has spacious bedrooms but the living room, dining/kitchen areas are a bit small. To avoid clutter, I decided to pack the things that are not used on a daily basis and place it in storage. Good thing the apartment building has a small storage space under the stairs. And because I gave away my shoe cabinet, I am now in the market for a shoe cabinet that would fit in the space behind the main entrance. Hayyyy!

My mother wanted to place a stone cast sculpture or an artificial flower arrangement to cover a "dead space" in the corner while I wanted to put an end table and a live plant in that space. It can also be a good place for cable and telephone connectors. Obviously, my mother and I don't see eye to eye when it comes to interior design---she prefers utilitarian while I am more on the aesthetic but functional (maarte daw ako :p). Not that I'd like to plant a tomato or chili pepper on that dead space---although it does sound like a good idea. Tried to explain to her that plants emit a positive energy and because they clean the air, they contribute to the positive flow of energy throughout the house. Naturally, she blamed the idea on feng shui because I mentioned that feng shui doesn't recommend thorny plants in the house---I had this wild idea of collecting cactus.

Talk of positive and negative flow of energy in the house is strange for my mother, too New Age for her. All I want is to make use of every nook and cranny instead of leaving an artificial flower here, a stone sculpture there to accumulate dust and for spiders to live in.

I hope this qualifies for Our Weekend Memoirs.

Manipis [thin] - Litratong Pinoy

Kasali sa mga transparent fabrics na kinabibilangan ng chiffon, gasa at linen, ang organza ay manipis na telang gawa sa rayon o polyester, o hinabi sa sutla. Medyo malutong ito sa kamay at kadalasan ay ginagamit sa mga magarbong evening wear, lining ng damit, damit pambata at ito nga, burdadong mantel. Organza din ang paborito kong kurtina sa bahay---may frilly touch at magaan ang tela, (read: madaling labahan) at nakakalusot pa ang hangin. Kung type mo naman ang romantic effect, maglagay ng organza netting o kurtina sa iyong 4-poster bed para feeling Cleopatra ka. At kung may nakatago kang organza scarf, pwede mo rin ikulambo sa maliwanag na lampshade para lumikha ng intimate ambiance.

A member of the transparent family of fabrics that includes chiffon, gauze and handkerchief linen, organza is a light, sheer, stiff fabric made of either man-made yarns like rayon or polyester, or of silk. It has a crisp feel and typically used to make fancy evening wear, as a clothing lining, children's dresses and yes, embroidered tablecloth. Organza is my favorite choice of curtains at home, too---it adds a frilly touch to my windows. I also like the lightness of the material, it's easy to wash; and because it's sheer, outside breezes can pass through organza curtains. If you'd like to infuse a sense of romance and luxury to your bedroom, add organza curtains around your 4-poster bed, or netting over it. Organza scarves can also be draped over lampshades to diffuse light and create an intimate ambiance.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Red Topiaries [Ruby Tuesday]

I hope you're not taking down your Christmas decor yet. In the Philippines, we usually remove the Christmas decor on the night of January 5th (Three Kings or Epiphany), or the Twelfth Night. In some cultures, it is believed to be bad luck to take down Christmas decor before the Twelfth Night.

Because my family has no Christmas traditions, I just enjoy myself getting creative with Christmas decor. When you're too lazy to put up a tree, or your apartment is too small to accommodate a real Christmas tree, then these pearly capiz cone-shaped topiaries would make a festive table accent.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

" Always leave something to wish for; otherwise, you will be miserable from your very happiness."

~ Baltasar Gracian

Fast cars [Photo-Hunt]

vintage Porsche 356

I am not a racing enthusiast nor a vintage car connoisseur but I admire sleek sports cars when I see one. We stumbled upon this array of Porsches at the Fort Strip after dinner on Saturday night. Their presence alone produced monstrous amounts of horse power there's no doubt of their powerful and fast presence on the road. The iconic red vintage Porsche 356, a highly regarded collector car, is obviously much loved and well maintained.

passersby admiring the silver Porsche 911

Posted for Photo Hunt hosted by TN Chick