Music Monday: episode four

Eeeek I missed posting in May altogether, wow. I'm just the worst. I'll try to post for Music Monday at least twice this month. NO. I WILL. Promise. Pinky promise.

So here's a super dreamy fantastical song I found, through Twitter. Someone I'm following posted about watching the movie Song of the Sea and then a few googles later, I listened to the most amazing sound. At least, one of the most amazing sounds/songs out there.

This song is actually from another movie of the same director (Tomm Moore), The Secret of Kells. Two words: Irish awesomeness.

After feasting your ears on this beauty, go ahead and listen to the 'Song of the Sea' soundtrack here. It's really calming. Great for accompanying you at work on the computer and (maybe) for sleeping. 

OK, I'll leave you to it now. I'm-a go work on some quality content.

x,
D

Just a (Late) Minute in May

Sorry for the disappearing act. May just went by in a blur. Let me try to remember what I did. These 'Just a Minute' posts help a lot.

Watching... season 1 of Silicon Valley (thanks, Nicole!). Loving it. Even the Mr likes it since he's also just started his own company, so he's relating well with the guys. Also just flew through season one of Mozart in the Jungle (thanks Daphne!). It made me want to learning a new instrument. The flute or trumpet or oboe or something.
Oh and I just watched Frozen, too. Surprisingly nice. The hype annoyed me into not watching it after so long.

Waiting... for Suits season 5 to start (c'mon, Harvey and Donna!). I'm beginning to sound like a terrible couch potato.

Doing... joined a sewing class and made a little girl's skirt! That was cool. But I think I did that in April and just didn't bother to talk about it too much.
Made some Halfway Kings stickers to give out to everyone who came for their album launch. Go get their album here!
Also, working on more design ideas for kismet.

Feeling... encouraged by the 'likes' kismet is getting and then feeling bad because I'm not delivering enough content there.

Listening... to classical music and blues. Classical music more for the cub and blues for when I've OD-ed on classical music. Oh, and Alt-J and John Legend and Bon Iver. Always.

Reading... as much as I can in the little in-between time that I have. Getting blown away by Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

Loving... my little bear cub more every day. Very amazed at how he's growing every day, really fast. He always manages to surprise me every day. My phone storage is super low because of the thousand photos I take of him just sitting there.

Anticipating... being spoiled silly on my birthday by the Mr. Can't wait!

something I did, playing around in AI and Photoshop with my Wacom tablet. clouds photo stolen from the web somewhere, I'm sorry I forgot where from.

x,

D

Music Monday: episode three

My previous post was partly inspired by this video of Hozier's Take Me to Church.

I was really disturbed after reading news of Taylor Alesana's suicide and then only today I watched this video. It just made me want to write out my thoughts.

Video aside, this is some good music. Nice hook that will get stuck in your head for quite a while.

Have a good week ahead.

x,

D

Get with the times, man.

I recently read about a suicide of a transgender teenager in San Diego.

She was (WAS.) doing well, being out and even making videos on youtube about her experience in school and make-up tutorials and being very supportive to fellow LGBTQs. And then last December, she decided to go back in the closet, fearing for her own safety - in school, especially.

Why else, bullying. She talked about it in one of her youtube videos. She was saying that she doesn't know how long she'll be 'in the closet' for but also how she did have a few friends supporting her through it. Then this April, the world loses her. She's not the only one. There have been many before this who died from suicide because of their sexual orientation. What's even more sad is that most of these beautiful souls were in their teenage years.

It's so damn crazy and heartbreaking that bullying has such a huge and powerful impact on a person's life. An inconsiderate person can just change, not just the bullied person's life, but his or her loved ones' lives too. There was another story of a transgender teen's parents who sent her for therapy, thinking it can turn her straight or something. I think I just read that this "therapy" is about to get banned in America.

COME ON. It's 2015. Get over your homophobia already. Whatever your religion tells you (or how you misinterpret it to support your own twisted thoughts), just accept people for who they are as you'd like them to, you. I want to think there is still hope for the people who spread hate in the name of God. The people who take the time and effort to make and hold up placards with words like "God hates (insert anything here)". Why? Why not hold placards saying "God Loves Everyone" instead?

I think that's the idealist in me talking. It's so sad to think about so many people thinking that homosexuality is a disease or a choice and demonizing homosexuals instead of accepting. All in the name of their religion or beliefs. What if God doesn't care? What if all He cares about is keeping the peace among people and keeping earth sustainable for living?

There are bigger things in this world to worry about, like the never-ending war in the Middle East, life-threatening diseases (REAL diseases, geniuses.) and the efforts to find cures, rape culture, women and child abuse, global warming. Heck, corruption everywhere. MY GOD. Please. I do know that for every one person spreading love, there are about 10 or more spreading hate (just my own rough speculation).

I have some homophobic friends, though they don't bully or openly spread any hate. Still, it sucks to know they find it difficult to just accept and be okay and open-minded about LGBTQs.

Please read more here:
Vice
BuzzFeed
Time and Time
The Guardian

x,

D

Outgoing Mail | March

Since March was my BFF's birthday month, I just decided to mail her a little present. Also, I found myself really busy last month. (Don't I always find myself busy every time, though?)

Even though it took what felt like forever to get her mail done, somehow I thought I could have done better. I guess we'll have to see what I do for April then. 

I'd originally bought a Bob Dylan poster for this special girl but it was too difficult to be packed and sent. So I decided to buy something small to keep her company for a while. The watermelon pouch, dubbed a Yummy Pocket, from my friend's shop of goodies Whenever Shop was bought through Fashion Valet. There are many other selections but I had to choose one and the watermelon looked best to me at the time, I think because it was a hot day and I felt like some watermelon juice would be a refreshing remedy.

I also found that awesome (but lengthy - but so darn good) quote by Neil Gaiman online and decided it was fitting for her on her birthday.

I desperately need to work on my super amateur hand-lettering. Soon.

OH! The envelope is made from wrapping paper-slash-poster (whatever you'd like to use it for, really) from Wrap Magazine, artwork by Jessica Fortner called "Open Country". Every paper lover's paradise.

The hidden but still-visible postcard is from Frankie magazine. I just included it in to protect my little Neil Gaiman work.

As much as I love to send this girl mail to Hong Kong, it would be even better if she was just here so we could hang out every weekend or something. But it's really awesome when we do meet up, because it always feels like we were never apart, and we can just pick up where we left off. Plus, there's the phone for us to keep in touch, so. Yeah.

x,

D

Joining the Club

There's only one way to start doing the things you love - actually starting.

So I've put my little blog on Bloglovin' to hopefully drive me to come up with more interesting content over here.

Then again, I'm just happy to keep an eye on my own progress :)

x,

D

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Music Monday: episode two

OK, it looks like my Music Monday series is happening one Monday a month. I'll try to make it twice a month and then once every week. I have no excuse, and I don't want to think of any excuse to give. I'm not perfect so I'll just keep trying to be the best I can. Currently I'm working on coming up with designs for kismet and sending mail to friends, on top of caring for my little 6-month-old cub and cooking and cleaning the house. Oh, and some light admin work for the mister's business. WHEWWW, it's been crazy and I don't think it's ever going to be not crazy. Unless we decide to escape and take a holiday.

Now that you've been updated, here's my song, not just for Monday, but the entire week. Or really any time you feel like listening to a really relaxing but also inspirational song.

I have to say, I'm a little biased. We used this beautiful piece for our wedding video and it just fit so perfectly. Another reason I came back to this song - I just heard it on The Judge, a really good movie. I don't know how, but it just fit perfectly. It's an amazing work of art. 

It's not your typical happy song, but I do believe it can inspire you - to be better, to create, to do that thing you've been wanting to do since last year. 

What better time to start than Monday, right?

x,

D

Movie Night: The Way Way Back

I just rewatched The Way Way Back and it didn't disappoint one bit.

Maybe because I like Jim Rash and Sam Rockwell.

When I first watched it, I didn't know who would be acting in it. All I knew was that Jim Rash from Community (Dean Pelton FTW!) wrote it with his friend and that it was a must-watch. I didn't even know he would be in it as well!

To my surprise, it was quite a star-studded cast. Or at least a talented bunch of actors. Steve Carell (what?!) and Toni Collette, Allison Janney (my first encounter with her craft was in 10 Things I Hate About You, her performance stuck with me to this day), Sam Rockwell (I hated his character in Matchstick Men, that's how good he is) and Maya Rudolph (she does anything well, really).

Liam James did well playing the main character, 14-year-old Duncan. You'll be rooting for him from beginning to end.

I don't like to spoil the story for people who haven't watched a movie or TV episode that I've already watched, so I'll just say that it's a nice balance of drama and comedy. It's just great. Go watch it, please.

 

Movie poster and screenshot via IMDB

x,

D

Paperbags of Love

As usual, I'm late to the party. The paperbag party.

First up, I came across Tellkiddo, an online shop based in Sweden, selling large paperbags with cute-as-heck designs on it. I wish I could have at least 5 of those! What a bloody clever idea. They've just begun producing fabric bags now (be still, heart).

Photo by Only Deco Love

^last 3 photos taken from Tellkiddo

And then, I came across another paperbag. It shouldn't be so enticing, but it just is!

Le sac en papier. French. Ah. That explains it.

All photos taken from Le sac en papier.

So.. I didn't know you could use these paper bags so many ways.

x,

D.

Outgoing Mail | February

Whoops, I missed Music Monday this week!

But I have a valid (enough) reason, (I hope). I've been busy working on sending some cards to friends. Also, the Mister's business got a little busy and I had to pitch in for a bit.

Why this month's mail took me more time than usual is because I wanted to include a little handmade knick-knack with it. Oh, and also, I decided hell yeah let's send mail to four people this month, all at once, why not.

I used 3 of the cards I got through my Frankie magazine from almost two years ago and made one card. Since I was saving time on making the cards, I decided to add a simple quote in each of the cards and make something small to complement it. I'm thinking it could be a bookmark, and I'm sure these recipients would love it since they love reading books.

I always underestimate the amount of time I need to prepare mail. I think it's because I don't have a clear plan as to what to include and what materials to use. Also, I feel the need to make my own envelopes instead of just using ready-made ones. Ah, it's more fun, really! It's nice to make people feel special. And you will definitely feel special by just looking at the envelope itself.

It's really nothing much, maybe because I was more eager to send them out than to make it more personalized. I hope they like their little cards! And I hope to get more creative ideas for my next mail project. March's one is gonna be big - and I only have one recipient. So I better start working on it now. 

P.S: Happy Chinese New Year!

x,

D

V-Day, schmee-day

Happy Valentine's Day, lovers and non-lovers.

It's of no doubt Valentine's Day was created by this genius of a greeting card writer stuck at their desk thinking of a new card to come up with. And then, BOOM. Prices for flowers and chocolates and heart-shaped everythings and dinners and brunches shoot up for one more day in a year.

I like the idea that Valentine's Day should be celebrated by single friends and family too. Also, if you need a 'holiday' to remind you to tell your loved ones that you love them, maybe you need to step it up a little.

Anyway, we added this beautiful poem by e.e. cummings in our wedding booklet. Just thought I'd share it.

x,

D

Moving forward

I'm so terribly excited, I don't know what to do and where to start. 

The Mr and I have decided to go ahead with our idea to produce stickers/vinyls/decals for decoration purposes and just plain fun. We haven't yet gotten a good enough portfolio of designs to show but I have so many ideas in my head (and sketchbook) already. 

It's just so exciting and then nerve-wracking. 

Exciting because I can already imagine the designs I want to put out and how we're going to package our products. Nerve-wracking because (again) I'm thinking about how I'm going to spend my time wisely ahead of caring for our cub and keeping house (fairly) well.

On another note, I'm currently working on a mini mail project and a major mail project. The goal is to get the mini one sent out by the end of the week and the major one by the end of the month, or first week of March. Hopefully no later than that. 

The cub is sleeping more in the mornings so I am treating my mornings as a sacred time for myself, to do whatever I want. Which means I'll be having my breakfast and catching up on my personal projects or work while doing laundry. Basically just taking advantage of my free time. 

Sidenote: I have new-found respect for free time. I know I shouldn't regret anything but I do regret not using my free time more wisely before our little cub arrived.

Anyway, here's a sneak-peek of our new exciting venture!

x,

D

Music Monday: episode one

Good Morning, Monday.

I've been swamped these few days, with the little cub and the mister's business work, I just didn't have time to post anything till now. Still haven't gotten the hang of juggling everything. Hopefully I get good soon.

Anyways, I've come up with a few weekly posts for a few days of the week. Hope it will get me to be more regular here. 

So Mondays are music days. Only because I believe it can help chase away the terrible blues it tends to bring right after a relaxing Sunday. Sometimes I think it's just all in the mind. And some good marketing skills. Who came up with "Monday Blues" anyway? Whoever it was, they're good. 

My plan is to share some happy music for a Monday to help you get through the day and start looking forward to midweek. Before you know it, it's Friday again!

Okay, ignore Marc Cohn's sad face. The melody and harmony just makes me feel good and ready to seize the day, honestly. I haven't really studied the lyrics, though. Something about men playing the piano. They're just really good, huh.

Happy Monday!

x,

D

One plus one equals three

Happy New Year (a month later)! 

My son arrived safely and we have been very occupied with him since then. It's been a whirlwind of happenings surrounding our little cub. His christening, and monthly doctor's check-ups. Me getting used to having a baby to care for, breastfeed, clothe, bathe and change diapers for. Honestly, I thought it would be tougher but thank God I took to this new routine without to big a hiccup. The lack of sleep and waking up few times in the middle of the night was a shock, but luckily it only lasted for around 2 weeks. I got used to the cub's midnight wake-ups pretty quickly. I think most of this is due to our stay with my parents, they helped out - A LOT. 

The cub and I stayed with my parents for 2.5 months. Only once we moved back to live together with my Mister did I really get the feel of juggling a child and managing your house and yourself. For a while, I felt like I didn't have the time to do anything else - house work, creative time, cooking - on top of seeing my friends on facebook and instagram going places and and just plain going out for dinner/lunch/brunch/ice cream waffles.

I did feel like my life is on pause and our baby's life is on play full-time. Then I decided I couldn't just get stuck like this. For a while, yes. But not for too long. I think 4 months is enough. Time to bounce back, off from baby "holiday". Not forgetting, time to get my pre-baby body back. It might be impossible but it's hella worth the try. The side-effect of working out is keeping healthy, no loss there.

And so my new, new life begins. On top of my wife and mummy duties, I need to have a little outlet for myself. To be able to create something that's mine (besides my beautiful child, with the help of the husband). Even though I've decided to be a stay-at-home mum, I still want to be productive and resourceful. I still want to feel like I'm contributing something, that's why I'm assisting the husband with his business just doing simple admin stuff and also planning to resume piano classes from home. It's not so great to solely depend on your husband for everything, mainly expenditure. 

I'm terrible with new year's resolutions so I just set a motto for myself, for the whole year.

Whatever I want or plan to do, try not to half-ass it. For instance, my plan to revive this little blog.

Hope I do it well.

x, 

D