There is something about this month that made me different.

Even with the workload and stress, I managed to stay calm. I treat each day differently, I try to mix "fun work" and "hard work" simultaneously. I then save the "best work" as a treat.

I look forward, I plan things. I enjoy my salon days and shopping days. I save for the things that I like and feast my eyes on things that I cannot buy.

I savor the meals I eat,the conversation i have,day by day.

I realized it's a matter of perception. The joy is still found in little things. My day is filled with a lot of these. :)

Ber months, the countdown begins. Christmas is just around the corner.

flowers

Meme, my good friend made a mock up of our centerpiece flower arrangement. SInce we are working on a budget,it is a smart idea to see it in actual. I will be making the square base using old scraps of wood from my past projects. My carpenter finished all 30 already, just waiting for them to be painted.

I enjoy the little details a lot. It makes me happy. :) The flower is called stargazer and it smells good too!

bulilit flat

facade,new extension

entrance

kitchen area

kit area,raw

kit area,constructing

facade,extension

Even since we started the wedding planning, Jong and I always talked about our ideal "home". This is one of our major concerns. It did not take us a long time to reach our decision but the process was very spicy. It added a bit more character and "umph" to our small abode. I call it our "bulilit" flat. Technically it is a 1 bedroom unit in the penthouse of Jong's family building.

It is "officially" our 1st investment. We used our own savings to revamp this place. It is not cheap, being a designer, I am not willing to settle for less. :) But it does not mean Italian kitchen and fixtures (this is only for clients..hehe), it means, trips to swapmeet and bangkal fleamarket, e-bay finds and a lot of house tours to aunts and friend's houses looking around if I can score on some mid century furniture pieces.

I am currently finishing my furniture specifications. Just found the right dining table. Kitchen and closet will be installed mid of Sept. It is very exciting. Tight budget even makes it more interesting.

At the end of the day, the simple girl that I always am, is so happy and thanking God for all the blessings he had given me.

tuesday

This is one Tuesday I will never forget......

Well, I started out my day early, I was up and about by 7 and was already working by 7:30. Just before lunchtime, I finished bank errands, 1 presentation and halfway done with the 2nd one. Pretty good job I think. "pats my head"

After lunch:

I was with mom and my mom to be, accompanying them to Mila, my couturier, for the designing of their gowns for my big day.

Before heading to Pasig, we had a short stop at our "bulilit" (small) flat. Mama likes it, it's cozy, just the right size for Jong and me. "

So, the 2 moms chatted away during the ride to Mila's. I was happy that they got along really well. "i smile" When we arrived at the shop, after the measurements were taken, Mila arrived. She sketched some designs and the mothers started discussing them. In the middle of discussion, i was called in the dressing room to fit my gown.

I was already wearing the white lining of my gown when Mila entered the dressing room.

She started snipping,pinning and telling me that I should gain more weight. She told me that if I lose more, i wouldn't have any boobs left. hehehe!! well so much for censored conversations.

I just felt very surreal standing in front of the mirror wearing this white gown. For the past months,the evidence of our wedding planning are all receipts and contracts, nothing really concrete. I never knew that fitting a piece of white cloth would bring so many mixed feelings. I felt scared,elated,excited,and a bit sad as well. It just felt so real now. I remembered my angkong Balete, how he will be so proud of me, my bestfriend who is supposed to be my maid of honor, my di-ku who is one person that is very excited for me (all of them in heaven now).

In that 5 mins inside the small room i went through loads of thoughts and emotions. I never knew that this kind of feeling existed.

On the ride back home, I said a little prayer of thanks.

lazy sunday

Mid August.

A few more weeks "ber" months will be arriving.

A few more months before I leap into another stage of my life.

LAzy Sunday afternoon. I sit here thinking about how time just flew by. Last year I was just on the plane bound to Manila from this long soul searching inspiring solo travel trip from Europe. NOw, 1 year and a few months later,I am back in the roller coaster of work, and the last leg of the "WEDDING planning".

Yes, this one's for me.

Too much jumbled words in my head right now.

Will write something about this soon. What's what,who's who and when's when.

Early morning..I ponder

Saw residence,Bicol

Co residence,Loyola Grand

Note: Sorry for the nasty potos * sigh*

I have more projects of bigger houses right now. After doing a lot small apartments and flats,one after another, I am becoming an expert in squeezing in all the storage spaces in different areas. Just making everything compact.

Big houses are different. I have so much space to work with that it takes me a longer time to put everything together, longer time to finish. But I love it!!! It's really hard to work on design if you think and feel like an artist. Somehow,I treat all my projects as if I am working on a big canvas. Thinking of the light,shadows,texture,color,feelings and even the smell. It's very exciting to convert all these abstract sensations into a home. Yes,i always go crazy! but then again I still have the "real" white canvas I can turn to.

details details details.....