Fancy Schmancy (and Slightly Crazy)

My mommy just made banana bread and now the whole place smells so yummy.

I was able to visit the new campus of my alma mater today. I was kicking myself the whole time for not bringing a camera, but I suppose it might be better to just go yourself and experience it. A swimming pool, exercise room, fancy choir space, lifts, multiple washrooms, and a killer art room (kilns, dark room, drawing studio...everything). I was able to see two of my favorite teachers. And while I definitely was in awe over all the new changes, it didn't feel like my old school anymore. Perhaps because my favorite faces aren't there anymore.

Was also able to meet up with a good friend. We got into a lot of philosophical arguments. I am a terrible debater.

It's been out for a few months, but I just heard about the crazy first class compartments on Singapore Airlines. The carrier is the first to use the world's largest craft, Airbus A380. Always known for their luxurious business/first class facilities, this time SAL has rolled out double beds and individual seats in a private, enclosed space. Ridiculous...and fabulous at the same time.

(Can you believe that's on a plane?!?!?)

Crazy ad, which takes personal space to a whole new level. I want that skirt. Yellow!


Small shout out to my fantastic partner, who was a finalist for AdFest. Woot!

Currently listening to: I Will - Leona Lewis

When the Lights Go Out

Today is all about Earth Hour.

Thanks to a tip from my brother, I found out Google has even changed its page to honor the event. (Copy: We've turned the lights out. Now it's your turn - Earth Hour.)
I was able to experience the whole thing with my mom. I spent the hour in the dark washing dishes and learned two things:
1) Candles (which I never use) are surprisingly bright.
2) As my mom pointed out, even though there was no need, she still reached to turn on the lights out of habit. Makes me wonder how many times I flick the switch when I don't need to.

Overall it was a really fun experience. Hopefully it will catch on worldwide by next year.
For those of you in North America and Europe, make sure to turn out your lights from 8-9 tonight!

Just wanted to give a little shout out to Miami web geniuses iChameleonGroup (responsible for Guinness Hands and Trevor the Mentos Intern), who just rolled out with the new Burn Alter Ego Facebook application. Sponsored by Burn (a Coca Cola product), this app allows you to create an alter ego: choose a different look, house, and group of friends. Your second self will then go out and party the night away and have photos and stories to prove it the next morning. Taking the alternate universe to a whole new level. Check out a full article here.

Currently listening to: Boxman Dance - Smosh

What's On Today?

Figuring out the odds and ends and preparing for the next stage of my life. Woot! Everything is (thankfully) falling into place.

Adobe just released Photoshop Express, which is a free web application that allows you to do basic PS photo editing. From what I've heard, it is a great tool. The online site even has a storage site for all of your pictures. No need to shelve out all that money for Photoshop.
Great news for Prison Break watchers. Spoiler! Highlight below to view.
It was announced that Sarah Wayne Callies (Sara Tancredi on the show) will be returning. The actress worked out a contract dispute and is making a comeback in Season 4. Look out for more MiSa! Click here for the article.

Clever online advertising for the new movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall has started to emerge. I think I'll pass on watching this one, but I had to admire their marketing.
Web banner
Blog (written from the perspective of main character Peter (Jason Segel))
TV "clip"

Scientists at UC (Santa Barbara) are discovering how squid beaks may impact the future of artificial limbs. The tough beak (made of chitin) changes density from the tip to the base, making it possible for the squid to eat (breaking food with its sharp beak), while still leaving its surrounding soft tissue undamaged. The gradually changing material of the beak could lead to breakthroughs if scientists are able to reproduce the effect. Read the Discovery Channel article here.

Have a great Friday! Earth Hour is tomorrow (29th) from 8-9PM. Remember to turn off those lights! (Sidenote: The library at 01:04 should look familiar to those of you who have seen my photos.)

Currently listening to: Whatever It Takes - Lifehouse

The Facts

I was able to go to the Chinese opera with my Grandma today. I had a great time even though I couldn't understand most of it. The costumes were beautiful and the performances were pretty good. I must say though that it was a bit strange sitting in an audience where 90% of the people were over 70.

Click here for the 10 Most Historically Inaccurate Movies. Great side comments.

French website L'Observatoire des Medias created a great way to see how much coverage different parts of the world are getting according to certain publications. See for yourself where newscasters, such as The Guardian or The New York Times, are reporting on the most here.

Currently listening to: Mixed Tape - Jack's Mannequin

Work and Play

(post for Tuesday)
I am full from yummy Korean barbecue. Food - it's what Hong Kong does best.

Currently working on some freelance web design stuff. And it's kicking me in the butt. I know it doesn't have to be anything fancy but I wish my design skills were better.

I spent a better half of the day watching ads (sighs, typical). So...
Check out this ad for Orange. Nice continuous shot.


Also two Ikea ads. They are a bit old but I thought I'd put them up anyways since the agency I'll be at does a lot of work for Ikea.
(and this one just because the dog is too cute)

Currently listening to: Breakup Breakdown - Rich Price

All that Shines

Today was a girls' day out. Was able to yum cha with my Grandma, aunt, and mom at the beautiful new mall Elements. T~ was actually just telling me about this place yesterday. The mall is separated into themed parts, with each decorated according to one of the five Chinese elements (soil, metal, water, fire, wood). Brings back memories of my photography class, for those who remember (and helped out!) with it. The mall is gorgeous. Definitely nothing I could afford (Mikimoto to my left and Ferragamo to my right) but it was very cool to walk around and check out the interior design. Wish I had my camera to take pictures, but perhaps you guys are tired of my mall photos anyways. Ha.

Fantastic images from photographer Satoshi Saikusa. Some of his work is a little NSFW, so view at your own discretion.
Check out YouTube songstress Marie Digby. She is coming out with her debut album Unfold on April 8th. Marie ("mar-ee-ay") is Irish-Japanese (pretty cool combination) and her voice reminds me faintly of Amy Lee's from Evanescence.
Here is her song Say It Again. Also check out the original (acoustic) version here. Or her most popular Umbrella (Rihanna) cover.

Currently listening to: Spell - Marie Digby

Life

Happy Easter everyone! Rejoice for He is Risen!
He is so good even when (and, I suppose, especially when) I resist His love.

I looked back at the post I wrote a year ago today (which, if you know me, I love to do) and it boggles my mind where I was and where I am at now. I feel like I am in a bit of a valley. I can't wait until the upswing though.

Today I was finally able to go to church (traveling has made it difficult; crazy how I've been in a different country every Sunday for the past few weeks) and also meet up with wonderful T~. It was so good to catch up. S~, we wish you could've joined us for breakfast!

I just found out about the singing group Young@Heart, which is composed entirely of senior citizens. A self-titled documentary came out last year. Check out the trailer below.

Watch their cover of Coldplay's Fix You


Check out photographer Peter Buckingham's gorgeous work.

Currently listening to: Lullaby - Josh Groban and LadySmith Black Mambazo

Quiet and the Storm

Although it is Saturday, the streets were uncharacteristically empty today since it is a public holiday. The family was able to go for a short outing before the rain hit too hard.

Making plans, plans, and more plans. It feels like five million things are going to happen within the next month.

At the same time I feel like I'm at a stand still. I'm so frustrated at some people's lack of communication. I want to lunge forward and I keep getting dragged back.

Currently listening to: A Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton) - David Archuleta

Short and Sweets

Gah, what's this?!? Sick? It cannot be. I am going to keep this short and head to bed for some rest.

I keep forgetting to post about this, but this week is World Water Week. Restaurants across the US are charging $1 for (normally free) tap water and funds go to UNICEF. Check out the Tap Project's site for more info.
Today my mom and I revisited the dentist (fie!). Apparently my love of sweets and the supposed surplus of fluoride in the drinking water was my undoing. What can you do?

Currently listening to: Waking Life - Schuyler Fisk

Push Start

I have felt a little uninspired to write lately so apologies for lack of posting. I hope everyone is having a great Easter break so far!

This past week has been a whirlwind of outings, appointments, and craziness. It's been really good though. I've discovered the wonders of disposable contact lenses (after having permanent ones since the dawn of time) and suffered the consequences of my love of sweets. Cavities anyone?

Many of our favorite shows will be returning with the start of April. The Office returns on the 10th. Fans of the show, check out this cute promo.

Vaseline (Canada) has a great interactive site that gives you a personal analysis of your skin based on the tone, dryness, and where you live.
For those of you who have seen Penelope (Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon), check out the soundtrack here.

Currently listening to: Life in a Northern Town - Sugarland

Last Term Ties

(post for Sunday)
Happy (belated) St. Patrick's Day!
Seems like I couldn't quite get away from the Philippines just yet. Met up with a colleague today who was visiting HK for the weekend. How ironic. Tomorrow will be Monday and it is weird that I will not have to go back to work.

Check out this article on new ballet, MaEternal, which features pregnant women. The hope is to showcase the beauty and serenity of pregnancy, rather than the usual assumption of being "lumbering and clumsy." This seems to tie together two of my recent projects (breastfeeding and Royal Opera House) in an unusual way.

Currently listening to: Take A Bow - Rihanna

In Between

Today I said goodbye to the Philippines and flew home. It was so sad to leave. I didn't realize how hard it would be. As with tradition, I stayed up all night and even had a chance to hop down to the farmer's market (about time) in the morning to check it out before I left.

Last night my wonderful partner and the agency arranged a little going away celebration. Definitely bittersweet. It still feels weird not being there anymore. I even went back afterwards and stayed at the office till 2 AM. Just didn't want to leave.

After a sort of frenzied airport experience - which involved overweight bags due to my relatives giving me gifts to bring back to my family here - I arrived safely. It is sort of bizarre to be back home. I realized I haven't been back in Hong Kong during the spring for a long time. Flowers are blooming and the weather is perfect (albeit a tiny bit cold at 77F...I mean, I did come from Manila). And I must say, it is really fantastic to have internet at home again.

Currently listening to: Sounds of Home - My Parents

In My Place

(post for Friday)
I am sorry I have been MIA this past week. I just got back from Singapore on a shoot for Gillette. It was an amazing experience and I am so thankful to have been able to go. I had a great time with my wonderful partner. The only sad part was that it rained (apparently unusual for this time of the year) a lot during our stay. I learned a lot though and got to bond with my colleagues.

Saying goodbye is so ridiculously hard. But I suppose it is the only way to still be able to travel. If you visit a new place you must say goodbye to another. It's getting harder and harder though, although I assumed it would be the opposite.

Currently listening to: In My Place - Coldplay

Shhh...Listen, Your Heart is Speaking

(post for Friday)
Been working and working and now I need a break. It is not over yet though. There is still so much to get done before Monday. I don't even know how I will get it all finished. Oh well. I am plugging along.

Our hearts are such strange things. I will be going about my day content and then suddenly be hit by an incredible longing. For a place I used to live. Friends I haven't seen for a long time. Foods that always make me feel better. A loved one lost. It's a bit overwhelming at times. How it aches at the beauty of the full moon or someone forever gone - it is the same raw feeling.

Currently listening to: Amie - Damien Rice

Kit Kat

My brain is fried but the night is still young. Award competitions are eating me alive!

If you've seen the Dove "Evolution" viral, check out this great spoof. Too cute.


Just watched Across the Universe. I really liked the Beatles' song covers (and I think you appreciate them more if you watch the movie so check it out!) and the (unusual but) great editing. Beautifully produced.

Currently listening to: I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Beatles' cover) - T.V. Caprio (from Across the Universe)

The Work, The Work, The Work

Today has been full of too much excitement. I am completely pooped. This week is crunch week. Everything for awards are due on Monday. Right now I am working on the opera, X Games, health care, trip planner, breast cancer, real estate, and Quaker. What a mouthful.

It's been a pretty exciting day though. My relatives are such a blessing to me. I am certain that they think I will starve to death if left to my own devices so they are always bringing food over.

We are also in final talks about Gillette. Production starts next week!

On a completely random note, I have this big urge to bake but I have no oven in my studio. I was playing around with one of those realistic looking magnets that looked like a chocolate chip cookie and I wanted to eat it.

Currently listening to: Little Miss Obsessive - Ashlee Simpson (oh, the shame)

LOST is the Remedy

Turns out I am not sick, so praise God! Either that or I am fighting it. Been drinking as much water as I can get my hands on.

I nursed my headache last night with the fifth episode of LOST. I might sound biased when I say this, since you all know I'm an avid fan, but this episode was incredible. Oh my goodness. One of the best out of the whole show, including all four seasons of it. If you know me, I am hardly someone who tears up during movies/shows (I was laughing while my best friends were all bawling in the scene were Julia Stiles talks about her mom in Save the Last Dance), but I definitely did a bit in this episode. Wow, is all I can say.
My trip to Boracay was amazing. There was all this hype about it beforehand that I sort of wrote it off. But it was so fantastic, and I kept thinking how much fun it would be with a bunch of great friends with me. The best part was that everything was so laid back. Even the high class restaurants just had pillows to lounge on by the beach. Nothing like the pretentiousness of the place I lived in least year. I got to spend some quality time with my partner and her fiance, which was a big blessing.

Finally, here are pictures of Mall of Asia. Sorry they took me forever to post.

(Ice skating rink)

(Palm tree lined walkway outside near the harbor)

(Martial arts tournament within the mall)

Currently listening to: LOST Season 4 Episode 5 (The Constant) [yes, I'm watching it again!]

Not Enough Strength to Blog Yet

Happy March everyone!

Sorry I was MIA last Friday. I just got back from a short trip to Boracay. It was fantastic and I was looking forward to posting more today but I am feeling a little under the weather and am going to rest instead.

I've really fallen in love with the Philippines. I mean, everyone loves wearing flip flops here (Havaianas are all the rage), so really, how could I not?

Hope to post more soon.

Currently listening to: The Last Emperor - Ryuichi Sakamoto (amazing award-winning musician)