i wanna be michelle obama

"Do not bring people into your life who weigh you down. And trust your instincts… Good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don’t hurt. They’re not painful. That’s not just with somebody you want to marry, but it’s with the friends that you choose. it’s with the people you surround yourself with.”

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”

—  Michelle Obama

How beautiful is Michelle Obama? For me, she's the epitome of beauty inside out. She's elegant in that je ne sais quoi kind of way. I must admit I wasn't all too crazy about her at first glance because she's not the typical Jackie O, Carla Bruni first wife. However, she grew on me and turns out she's even more beautiful, especially when she talks. Michelle Obama proves that being smart and articulate means more than just being pretty. And she is quite beautiful, even more so because her ideas and how she carries herself speak volumes of the kind of woman that she is. In a fairty-tale kind of way, Mrs. Obama proves that behind every good man is a better woman. 

Reading her interviews and speeches made me a big fan of her work. She is passionate about bringing awareness to the sacrifice of the military and their families. She addresses the problem of obesity among Americans, pushing for a healthy, active lifestyle especially for children. The way she speaks of her husband, her kids, and her family life is a breath of fresh air. Her down-to-earth attitude, working-class consciousness, and subtle feminine strength are quite amazing. The best thing about her is that you can feel she is a strong woman. She doesn't come off as an alpha female, but you know she's strong, intelligent but still empathetic and personal. 

At the end of the day, Michelle Obama reminds me why I love my mother, my girlfriends, my sisters... why I love being a woman.

lovely-ness, a survey, and then some

photos from tomboy style and knight cat

Because I just can't get enough tonight. And because nobody would ever ask me these questions in a million years, I'll indulge myself.

If not in NYC QC, I would live in... Paris. (Ang local pakinggan ng QC kumpara sa NYC. Ayoko sabihing "ang cheap." hehe because it's not sooo.)

My dream holiday would be to... go on a roadtrip bound to nowhere in particular. Siguro masaya pagpa-Norte. Kung saan maabutan, stop over. Magbabaon in advance ng maraming wine, beer, at kung anu pang alak, chuchurya, at walang katapusang 90s na playlist. Shit ang saya.

My current obsessions are... home and furniture (lol), Rajon Rondo, Lana del Rey, acoustic version ng Never Gonna Leave This Bed, lingerie, candles, 50 Shades (shutdafrontdoor), and food lit. Wow, hindi na rin ako na-oobsess!

I channel my childhood self when I... indulge in ghost stories. I'm still the same MGB loser. Kung makahingi ng nakakatakot kala mo ang tapang. Tapang! On a side note, how I wish I could say draw. My childhood was all about drawing, coloring, and cutting paper clothes for my paper dolls.

The fictional character I most relate to is... Cedie. Charaught. Carrie Bradshaw. Hahaha. Arte. I'm shallow, boy-obsessed, self-centered, human, and blessed with really gorgeous, sweet friends.

If I had to be outdoors all day I would... lie on a hammock, drink something cold, and read a book. 

My favorite quality(ies) in a man is... ambition, zero mind games, and humor.

My favorite quality in a woman is... being comfortable in her own skin. It's gorgeous to see a woman embrace her own beauty. Pakapageant but true.

I'm terrified of... losing someone and growing old alone.

My dream car is a... convertible. Yeah, okay. I know nothing about cars. Basta something red, shiny, and convertible.

My cocktail of choice is... nothing. I'm a beer girl. Somebody educate me about cocktails.

My celebrity crush is... (definitely not "is") Rondo, Guillaume Canet, and Mila Kunis. Marami pa actually but these three first come to mind.

My beauty product of choice is... Ponds. Seriously. Sa Ponds lang ako hindi nagkakapimple. And most of my stuff (coincidentally) are Nivea. I love how masa my skin is. How masa?

My friends and I like to... hangout with good food, drinks, and LOTSA conversations. I can't get enough of it.

If I could go back in time for one decade it would be... seventies or sixties. Sakto ma-experience ko lang ang flower power!

As a teenager I was totally into... guys, gays, boybands, teleserye, MTV, PBA, and sweet valley books.

I tend to splurge on... BOOKS, books, and more books. Doesn't mean I read a lot. I just like buying books. I'm one of those who love the smell of (not old but) new books. And then writing my name on the first page like a boss.

advice from the graying edge

Earlier today I had an "Aha!" moment because of this article.

I'm not sure what the hell happened, but I've been thinking a lot about life and death lately (not in a creepy kind of way lol) since I finished watching Revolutionary Road. (Btw, I am totally joining the Kate and Leo bandwagon. Such phenomenal actors) Oh well, who am I kidding, I always think about life especially if you have all the time in the world to think. Welcome to my world.

This article from the New York Times entitled "Advice From Life's Graying Edge On Finishing With No Regrets", written by Jane E. Brody, is quite timely for my daily uphill climb. There's nothing really revolutionary about it, but it's a very good read to keep present and future goals in perspective. It's a summary of the most common and prevalent advice from the elderly, mostly in their 70s and 80s, who took part in a survey for the book entitled "30 Lessons For Living." Brody's introduction, summary, and conclusion were on-point, succinct, and insightful. I particularly like the advice on Career, Marriage, Regrets, and Happiness.

"ON MARRIAGE A satisfying marriage that lasts a lifetime is more likely to result when partners are fundamentally similar and share the same basic values and goals. Although romantic love initially brings most couples together, what keeps them together is an abiding friendship, an ability to communicate, a willingness to give and take, and a commitment to the institution of marriage as well as to each other.

An 89-year-old woman who was glad she stayed in her marriage even though her young husband’s behavior was adversely affected by his military service said, “Too many young people now are giving up too early, too soon.”

ON CAREERS Not one person in a thousand said that happiness accrued from working as hard as you can to make money to buy whatever you want. Rather, the near-universal view was summed up by an 83-year-old former athlete who worked for decades as an athletic coach and recruiter: “The most important thing is to be involved in a profession that you absolutely love, and that you look forward to going to work to every day.”

Although it can take a while to land that ideal job, you should not give up looking for one that makes you happy. Meanwhile, if you’re stuck in a bad job, try to make the most of it until you can move on. And keep in mind that a promotion may be flattering and lucrative but not worth it if it takes you away from what you most enjoy doing.

ON REGRETS “Always be honest” was the elders’ advice to avoid late-in-life remorse. Take advantage of opportunities and embrace new challenges. And travel more when you’re young rather than wait until the children are grown or you are retired.

As Dr. Pillemer summarized the elders’ view, “Travel is so rewarding that it should take precedence over other things younger people spend money on.” Create a bucket list now and start whittling it down.

ON HAPPINESS Almost to a person, the elders viewed happiness as a choice, not the result of how life treats you.

A 75-year-old man said, “You are not responsible for all the things that happen to you, but you are completely in control of your attitude and your reactions to them.” An 84-year-old said, “Adopt a policy of being joyful.”

The 90-year-old daughter of divorced parents who had lived a hardscrabble life said, “I learned to be grateful for what I have, and no longer bemoan what I don’t have or can’t do.”

Even if their lives were nine decades long, the elders saw life as too short to waste on pessimism, boredom and disillusionment."

And somehow I managed to find myself here as well.

when i wake up in the morning, love

Fallin in love with Brian Ferry's photography. I can't stop reading (or more of looking) at his blog. I love how he's able to capture the mundane in an artful kind of way. Simple things from food, wine, windows, greenery, books, European cities, and the country... it's my kind of life. He recently published a collection of his work entitled Quality of Life. If only it's available here in Manila, I'd buy the book in a heartbeat.

Other stuff:

Listening to Bill Withers' Lovely Day and waking up alone in my apartment. I want to devour Kindle books on eBay. Watching French films like it's my job. Reading FranceToday like it's my part-time job. Can't wait to buy Bourdain's book and Mindy Kaling's memoir. Conversations with Other Women on queue. 

facts and fancy

(source 1,2,3)

Magandang pictures dahil adik ako sa magandang pictures. On another note, puro random facts si Manuk Abante kanina.

1. The most children born to one woman was 69, she was a peasant who lived a 40 year life, in which she had 16 twins, 7 triplets, and 4 quadruplets. (sure naman daw na tao ito at hindi baboy)

2. Each day, there are over 120 million sexual intercourse taking place all over the world. (fuck you sexual intercourse, fuck you! lol)

3. If you mouth the word "colorful" to someone, it looks like you are saying "I love you". (cute. gagawin mo sya literal noh?)

4. Most of us have microscopic, worm like mites named Demodex that live in our eyelashes and have claws and a mouth. (why?)

5. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910. (wala akong comment dito pwede pa lang maging boring at interesting all at the same time ang isang fact. ranggay!)

...at ang pinakahuli at pinaka hindi ako makarelate. (ha ha ha)

6. Studies show that men are put off by groups of loud women. If a woman wants to get a date, she should break away from a loud group to give a man a chance to approach her. (ha ha ha, or kumapit ka lagi sa bakla para mas lalong wala kang mahita. true story.)

i feel it all, i feel it all

Tao Okamoto
Vogue China
August 2011
Photography by Lachlan Bailey
Styled by Clare Richardson
via fashionrouge

I love everything about this editorial. It's been awhile since I've appreciated photographs like these. Perhaps it's because of the disheveled short hair; or the disheveled everything; or Coke Sakto!

it's all about perspective

Keri Smith never ceases to inspire.

Read here.

vibrance and perspective

Because you need some color and inspiration. Hello Monday!