Waiting In Line

Amidst my seclusion the past weeks due to my Smallville marathon (more on that later), I found the time to get my bills paid. Believe me, if only I could pay it through online banking, I would have never stepped out of my condo. But it was just at the corner, literally, so it wasn't so bad to go out and get a little exercise. (Hah!)

When I got to the bank, I remembered why I hated going there. Two words: long lines. I went to two different branches and it was the same. Why is it that whenever you go to banks it seems that the tellers always go on a break and there is only one remaining?

I decided to make good use of my time, and let out some frustration in the process. And I came up with this little ditty. 

We fall in line to give them our money

Try to avoid looking at each other's eye

To reveal how much is your worth

In dollars, nickels and dimes.

Tell me when my number's up

Tell me when it's my turn

To meet that girl who's in front of this line

Who'll take what's mine with a smile.

Eventually, it ended up in an art journal entry.

...Yeah, I'm still figuring out this art journal thing. My gesso basically turned into rubber so I wasn't able to paint the background. Not satisfied with it at all. But I figured art is an evolving thing so maybe I'll revisit this for some improvements later on.

Speaking of improvements, I already made some on my previous entry:

Just added a few sunflowers I cut out, but it looks marginally better, right? I think it gives it a more uplifting, optimistic look. But... it still needs... something. Ah, well.

By the way, for more of my emo writing - my alter-ego is at Quilled Thoughts. Please be kind. :)

My Dara Lightstick

Thanks to the joint efforts of OhDara, WeLoveDara, and Oh My Goddess (Dara's Korean fansite), I was finally able to get my hands on one of these nifty Dara lightsticks.

Off Mode

On Mode

It didn't come with batteries so I couldn't test it as soon as I got it. For those who don't know, it uses A76 batteries - 3 for each light so you have to buy six in total. You can buy these at hardware stores and they cost about Php 47 a pack with 2 batteries. In total you spend about less than Php 150.

I'm also trying to think of a way to store the lightstick. It only came wrapped in bubble wrap and even though the light is made of durable plastic, I am still thinking of making a box or something for it. Does anybody else have an idea there?

So now in addition to my Blackjack lightstick, I have this one. So cute, right? I don't know when I will have the opportunity to use it. Maybe MAMA? Haha... I wish. Or maybe I could just wave this around while watching this oh so sexy CF teaser of Dara for Nikon.

Product ♥: Powder by Kamiseta

If you've ever been to Kamiseta, even if you're just passing by, you've likely got a whiff of their powder scent that is present in all of their stores.

I've always been curious about that because, hey, who wouldn't want to have a house smelling like that?

So today I went over to a Kamiseta store and chatted up the sales attendant at the cash/wrap about the scent. She said that it was the owner's preference and that it was a specialized air freshener. I can't remember what company she told me it was from, but I gathered that you can't buy it from department stores and supermarkets. Too bad. (They're totally missing an opportunity here LOL!)

But I did buy myself one of their scents - Powder.

 Powder (Php 249)

From the Kamiseta website, it says that it's "a refreshing mild scent inspired by the natural freshness of fine powder." It certainly is that!

Well, if I can't have my house smelling like it, at least I do. <3

Doodles

Some people have a difficult time drawing. I'm one of those people, believe it or not. Maybe because I'm a Virgo, but I always want my drawings to be perfect. Stupid of me. I can't be Michelangelo or Da Vinci overnight (if ever).

It's only lately that I realized that it's okay for your sketches and drawings not to be realistically-drawn. Even if it's two dots for eyes and a curved line for lips, it's still okay.

So here are some of my recent sketches which I've scanned (yeah, I'm still having fun with my scanner!) and colored using Photoshop. Color really improves everything! Haha...

The before pic of the first pic. I actually copied it off from one of my Japanese magazines. Sorry to the original artist. I just used it for learning experience. :)

Other before and after sketches:

 

LOL! The hands look like she's wearing gloves!

Doodle away!

I've got a feeling

I'm still sucky about doing these art journals. I'm now thinking that it's just scrapbooking without the pictures?

I just finished watching the anime Beck and reading its continuation in the manga. Despite my current love of K-Pop, I initially was a rock fan due to my older brother's influence. Watching Beck made me revisit that and I've got this song from the Beck OST stuck on my head. Originally by The Beatles, I've Got A Feeling is just really upbeat and mellow at the same time. The contrasting lines of the song just fits what I'm feeling at the moment. Yeah, your life has its ups and downs... but everybody does. Just chill.

I wish I could sing it live just like what Beck did at Greatful Sound. How cool was that?

Natural Perm

You don't know how many times I've been asked where I had my hair permed. It gives me a some sense of satisfaction to say that my hair is all natural. Well, except for the color. But, yeah. I have natural curls.

But I didn't always like it. There's still a part of me that wishes I have that long, straight black hair that is often seen on ads and commercials. Relax, rebond... I've tried all these and have the token hair straightener that is now gathering dust at the back of closet somewhere. I know that people who have straight hair and can't maintain a curl have the same dilemma. We always want what we can't have.

It's a good thing that over the years I have learned how to 'embrace the curls', as I say. It's much easier to maintain than suffering from the heat because I can't tie my hair into a ponytail lest the rebond/relax will be damaged.

I'm no expert, but what works for me are:

1. Shampoo especially made for curly hair. Also, conditioner. Lots of it. I used to use the local Sunsilk brand but they discontinued it. Now I use the Herbal Essences one. It really does make a difference. When I use a regular shampoo, my hair is a little straighter and the curls look limp.
2. Mousse or a curling lotion/milk. I've been using this brand Monea Curl Defining Milk and it works for me. I just spread it on my hands, scrunch it on my wet hair, and then leave it.
3. Fine toothed comb. It's weird, but what I discovered is that my curls are more 'organized' when I use a fine toothed comb on my wet hair. That is, after using the wide toothed comb to untangle it first. My hair looks straight at the beginning, but when it dries it forms the curls. But since it was combed finely, it's a more ordered messy look. (Huh?)
4. And for my latest discovery, this video which works if you have time to set your hair. I found myself doing this for the past few weeks and I never get tired of it. Sooo easy (no hairdryer required!) and I love the curls it makes.

.

The people at my house looks at me funny because of the before hairstyle. They're kinda used to it by now. They know I usually do weird things with my hair when I get bored. Haha...

Front view

Ate Nan told me my hair looked like something from Amaya.

 The back view

But the after is worth it.

I'm smiling on the inside. :)

I read that this technique also works for those who have stubbornly straight hair so, why not? It's so easy and you don't need hair dryers and all that stuff. Embrace the curls!

Book Review: New York To Dallas by J.D. Robb

So cool that even books have trailers these days. As if I wasn't excited enough. I was calling bookstores and actually went there everyday (the perks of living a ten-minute walk away from the mall) just in case they already have the book for sale.

And, finally, they did! I spazzed in the bookstore. True story.

New York To Dallas is the latest In Death novel. The 33rd! Wow. I can't believe I've been reading this series for so long now. I think I was still in college when I started! But I don't regret reading all of them and it remains my favorite series ever.

Protagonist Eve finds herself facing a previous antagonist - her first one from her rookie days. The culprit has escaped jail and now set his sights on her for revenge. The case brings her back to the past, both from that case and also from her own childhood which dregs up uncomfortable memories for her and her husband, Roarke.

I admit I may have been a little spoiled about this book. I blame myself because I was reading the reviews and tortured myself with the teasers. That's why when the twist happened, I was already braced for it. Was it worth it? Hmm...

I tried hard to resolve my feelings about this book. It was a bit heavy for me, which is understandable because of the subject matter. The humor is also not as prominent as with the previous novels. I think it's because the New York 'crew' wasn't in the book that much. I missed Peabody, McNab, Feeney, Truehart and Baxter. That's why when a character was brought over to Dallas, I was so happy that it sort of felt like home again, like what Eve felt.

It was just different. Not bad different, but just different. I think that it was a necessary journey that Eve had to take so the story could move forward. It deserved it's own book so I understood why this book had to be written. Will it be my first pick when I get the urge to read an In Death novel? No. Not right now. But it may be further in the series when I want something a little more emotional and revisit Eve's journey.

But now that it's over, I am now looking forward to the new book. It looks really fun from the synopsis and you can bet I'll be bugging and stalking the bookstores once again.

Authentication shot!