"I have learned that life is about cycle of breakdown and breakthroughs. This is what keeps the wheels turning. While there are periods of turbulence, grief, loss, and aloneness, I am many times overcome with heartfelt gratitude for all the blessings the universe has showered and continues to shower me with."

"Painting has given her a new window and she now sees things in  fresh, new ways."

Hello blogworld. It's been a while...like really a long while. One of the main reasons I started this blog was to have an avenue for my silly little writing (a close second next to my love for the arts) and i truly miss it now having not written anything for months. My creative pursuit has brought me so much blessings to the detriment of my weak time management skills, not to mention my sanity. Though I must admit that whenever I hit the publish button after finishing a post, I sometimes feel like I'm just throwing my thoughts to a void. But then again you my dear friends would almost always prove me wrong by dropping by and leaving me the loveliest and sweetest comments. So, thank you. Thank you for sticking around even when the blog falls silent every now and then.

Anyway, since it's been ages since my last entry,  I thought it would be appropriate to deem this one as a "look back" post. So many interesting things have happened and are still happening and it would be a pity if it's left unshared. From the moment I stated on my 2012 New Year's resolution "do illustrations more...should really give this old love a chance" I've been really doing just that as evident on the evolution of my posts. So expect more work in progress photos here on the blog.

So, to commence my first entry for this year let's look back at some of the highlights of what transpired during my blog absence (not in any particular order):


ONE OF MY POSTCARDS GOT FEATURED IN A NATIONAL MAG!
I know it was just a tiny spot, but it was kind of a big deal for me. And it's Working Mom Mag!!!Another feat checked from my bucket list!

JOINED MY VERY FIRST BAZAAR!
Thanks to a sweet friend who shared her slot, I managed to join the annual Brent Bazaar. I sold my mini artprints and postcards and a few of my hanpainted kitty purses and mini pillows. I was overwhelmed with excitement but went crazy trying to rush the handmade stuff i barely had time to make my booth aesthetically pleasing. Vowed to prepare better for this year.

DID MY ANNUAL HAIR ASSASINATION
Instead of having my usual perm this year, I decided to chop my waves only to have it permed again few months after. The one on the left was taken immediately after the initial curl onslaught, with wispy ends and intact bangs. Yup, finally got tired of them bangs so i decided to grow them back...which is kind of a pain. These days I hide their monstrosity under a hat.


ENJOYED BAGUIO'S FIRST EVER ART IN THE PARK
I was very excited when I heard about Baguio's first art in the park. It is really amazing to see local artists' unique work and talent. My only hope for the next one is for it to be bigger and better advertised. It's a pity that not too many people know about the event.


MY ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT MT CLOUD BOOKSHOP AS POSTCARDS AND BOOKPLATES!
When I was asked by Padma, the owner of Mt.Cloud Bookshop if i would like to consign my paper goodies to them, I was more than elated. Mt. Cloud Bookshop is a famous spot both for local and tourists alike for its unique and quirky vibe plus it has this air of the old Baguio you can't help but fall back into. Definitely the kind of place I want my work be part of.




By the way, I have a workshop for the month of April. So if you're in Baguio and free on he 12th and 13th, do join in the fun. You can register online HERE!

{H admiring art pieces at the lobby}

{Contemporary Art Room}

{Cordillera Gallery}

{farm and garden seen from the viewing deck}

{inside Cafe Sabel}

{H and I got their famous Bencab Chicken Pasta and Lemongrass Iced Tea while the kid enjoyed his ice cream volcano}

{Bencab Gallert}

{image source}

"겨울연가" or Winter Sonata

We were blessed with a wonderful autumn weather during our three-week-visit to Korea. Though there were a couple of gloomy days, they weren't bad enough to keep us all cooped up at home. As matter of fact, not a single day had gone by without us spending it somewhere awesome. This year's autumn mornings were also not as cold compared to my previous visits...it was pretty much like cold nights in Baguio. The temperature drops as early as 2pm though so it was always wise to bring an extra thick cardi. 


This one's at Yuldong Park, in the city of Bundang. It is a favorite go-to place for families and couples alike with its wide walkways and amazing lake. It is also conveniently surrounded by cafes and restos but my favorite of course is that it's lined with beautiful trees made more incredible by the fall season. 


Can't wait to share more of our South Korea visit. Til the next post!

We got quite a scare after  a couple of short tremors were felt two days in a row here in Baguio a few days back. Of course, given the tragedy that had befallen this beautiful city in 1990 no one, i mean no one would dare take an intensity 4 earthquake ever so lightly again (hence the cancelled classes in many of the schools). There was still much talk about it for a couple of days with remnants of tragic memories touching the city's hearts so to lighten up a bit we decided to do something a little different this weekend. We headed for Strawberry Farm, a mere 20minute drive from downtown, for some strawberry-picking experience. We got a short heads up from the farm owner on the proper way of picking strawberries and we were off for a conquest! Little sonshine's friend tagged along and they had so much fun competing on who could get the biggest and prettiest strawberry of all. 
It's been a while since i last visited the place (the last was i believe when i did a feature report for a local paper...a decade or so ago...have i mentioned that in my former life i was a Journalism grad...lol) and the place had so far developed in terms of convenience with their wide parking space and well-paved road. There were also vendors who sell, you've guessed it.....strawberries and in all manner possible...(i.e. strawberry ice cream, strawberry taho, strawberry candy).  It was special in some way because we don't get to have this kind of experience anywhere else in the country. As i know, strawberries only grow here in the highlands since they require a certain degree of temperature to flourish.  


It is always nice to find one's way back to a place close to home and see it with a new eye ....it only proves that you need not go to a  far-flung place or burn a hole in your pocket just to have fun. As long as you're with the people that matters to you, everything else would just fall into place and that the littlest of things would leave a smile on your face as you drive your way home.