Getting my creative juices flowing

As some of you may know I have a huge experience with frustration.
I experienced/experiencing it in so many ways, at so many times in my life. There are so many things I wanted to do with my life! I want to become an Ambassadress. I want to become a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company.  I'm a frustrated fashion designer who has been dreaming about garments that have their own lives outside the human body. I always dreamt to be an artist.  I want to start my own clothing line. I want to become a Fashion Editor and photographer. This is it. It is frustrating, no doubt about it, but rejecting this reality will not lower the frustration, on the contrary, will make it stronger and stronger. Accept reality. My own dichotomies exhaust me. I have so many things that I want to do, I just can’t seem to focus on one. Clothing trends, fashion journalism and plates are nagging me right now. 

Now it’s the best time to start working on them. I've been keeping myself fairly busy with creating fashion layouts. Look at the small steps I'm doing. This is an incredible exercise and it always feels good to get the “creative juices” going. Hopefully this would get me further along in accomplishing the bigger goals. Whoot! I will update and upload my sketches soon.

This is my first magazine cover. I thought the output was great. Yeah, it kinda sucks pala.  Let me put it to you in Tagalog kung ikukumpara sa pagkain hilaw pa. Ok! dami kong alam.

check out my fashion spread layouts

 I felt so relieved when I did this, that I wanted to share it here. You will see 

more of that visit my fashion scrapbook 

Entreaty of the lazy one

I believe that this sem break has been the best and this has been exactly what I needed.. And so how best to summarize my sembreak? I did a lot of traveling with my family. (Travel photos. Laugh rich. Cheap backpacker haven.)  But I can sense it all. That pit in my stomach. Second semester will start a few days from now and, suffice to say, I’m not really looking forward to it. I haven't really feel like going back to school. Gasp I know the incredible semestral break days and nights we dream of most of the year are quickly passing us by. Please!! extend my break. 

This sem break seems so short, but I'm walking away from it with a plethora of invaluable experience and memories that will last a lifetime. 

QUEZON

This is the least favorite place I've visited.  Duh! it's my mom's province and I had been to this place for a million times. 

North invasion

We went to diffrent places: Iba, Subic and Olongapo, Zambales; San Fernando and Mexico, Pampanga, and Dinalupihan, Bataan. 

This is one of the best family vacation. It's a mini-reunion for Faller clan. Family reunions are high on my "things-I'm-grateful-for" list. Both of my parents came from large families (70 years ago large family was a common phenomenon) many relatives, many joys. There's never a dull moment. It was great seeing all of my cousins living in Olongapo this is the first time I've met them and discovered they're filthy rich haha!! And oh! their 3 levels modern house is surrounded by beaches. My road trip was a gorgeous drive. I wan to go back. 

Manila 

I went back to school PARA MAGPARESERVE NG SLOT FOR GRAD PIC. Gosh! time really flies so fast. A few months from now, I'll be graduating. University is the best time of my student's life.  Looking at the number of years spent in school, it all sounds terribly long and exhausting. At times, it feels like a never-ending battle. But as I approach the end of my student life, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. Not wanting to go home as yet, we went to Balay. Fun and vibrant.

Tagaytay

After hearing mass we decided to have lunch buffet in Taal Vista with a view to boot. It overlooks the majestic Taal volcano and lake. There was a group performing traditional Filipino dances and it gave the dining hall a very festive mood. It was interactive, and they even had this foreigner dance the tinikling. Their menus included a variety of both Asian and Continental dishes. The food choices were staggering, I was wise and only had small amounts of each. 

Don't neglect expensive restaurants just because you assume they're out of your price range.

Sophia's christening

my baby sister was baptized in Silang, Cavite. There were 6 other kids baptized that day. Only about 35%  appeared to be Filipinos: church goers are made up of people from many different backgrounds and they were mostly Caucasians. Gosh! what a culturally diverse society. To be honest I would say I am a xenophile. 

 

Batangas

I spent my halloween break/Undas in Laurel and Santo Tomas, Batangas. Hung out with really great people. It is such a special time, and I enjoy seeing all the families coming together with their warm, poignant stories and funny quirks. I look forward to my next visit.

AB ComDev meeting 

at UST TYK  the meeting was crucial because it's our means on how to carry over our plans to reality. We discussed Status of ComDev in AB, presentation of Needs Assessment and project proposals, phases, timeline, matrix and 5-yr operational plan. Damn! The first day of School is approaching quickly. 

Now that 2nd sem is just around the corner, I'm not sure if life is about to slow down, speed up, take another turn, but whatever it has for me I'm ready! 

One chapter closes, and another one begins. For all those also headed back to school, I wish you the best of luck, but most of all, remember to have fun!

A Letter for My Future Husband

Dearest,


When I think about getting married, I think about much more than just the wedding dress, bridesmaids, flowers, invitations and parties. To me, getting married means sharing the rest of my life with you. Growing old together - 'til death do us part - with a lot of living in between. It means growing and changing and living through the good times as well as the bad. It means loving each other when it is difficult.

By the time you read this, you and I would have met, learned to love each other, and promised to belong together for the rest of our lives. I would have memorized everything about you — your face, your voice, your touch. And you would know me more intimately than anyone ever has or will.


But right now, I am alone. I know you only in my imagination…and my dreams. But, darling, in a way that I can’t explain, I love you now. It’s as if I know you in my heart, and because we are separated by time, I miss you. So I am writing this to you as a way of reaching into the future — to tell you that I am saving my heart until you finally come to claim it. I am waiting for you, beloved. And I pray that wherever you are right now, you are waiting for me as well.

As the days go by, I long for you in a way that I have never experienced before. It is a strange feeling, to miss someone whom I do not even know. My prayer is that this longing will glorify God by drawing me closer to him, because as much as I love you now and will love you in the future, I will always love Him more. I know that it will be the same for you, as it should. Our common passion for the one who made us for each other will strengthen our love and deepen our bond. It will be the first thing that will draw me towards you.

Though it isn’t always easy, I can see the hand of God in giving us this season of waiting. Because you are always in my thoughts, simple activities become special when I think of them as preparation for the future. There is so much more to learn before I am ready. Be patient with me, beloved, for my life is a work in progress. I know that yours is, too. Therefore, allow me to say this now: If there is anything, anything at all in your past that might hurt me, know that you will have my forgiveness. You do not have to earn it; it is yours. I am no stranger to second chances, and I do not want our future to hold any bitterness or recriminations. Let us live in the freedom that the greatest Love of all has restored to us.

Someday, you and I will talk about everything that made us who we are. There may be laughter, tears, thankfulness, and yes, regrets. But always, God’s goodness will be present. It is, after all, because of His love that we will find each other. And when we do, this season of waiting will give way to a season of discovery, when I can finally listen to your stories and tell you all of mine. So until that day, beloved, I am saving myself for you. I have surrendered the keys of my heart to God, and he will open the door for you to enter in the perfect time. I’ll see you. 


These letters are a part of my soul. They are me, my passions, and my desires written out in a love letter to a man I have yet to meet.

Yours forever,
Shari

Five things I'm loving right now

Since nothing too exciting has gone down in the last 24 hours (I just got home from Quezon) I’m mixing things up today and as the title suggests, I’m sharing 5 of my most favorite things of the moment.  Check ‘em out because I know you’ll love them, too.

1. Right now one of the top things on my mind is The Lonely island

Oh gawd the truly genius guys were these 3: Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Andy Samberg.

I accidentally stumbled upon this video on Youtube. Replay button abused. Awkward, hilarious, quippy writing, perverse. Suffice to say, it’s succeeding.

2. taking pictures of my sister Sophia
She's growing up so fast and she's getting prettier and prettier day by day

3. notably cute Journals/notebooks
Though I am firmly rooted in the digital age, I am still obsessed with writing stuff down, everything from story ideas to to-do lists to random thoughts and reminders to myself. But writing is so much more rewarding when you have a cute notebook to do it in. On my wishlist wonderfully clever Listography journal series. While waiting to get my Listography series journal you could  see my personal web collection of list @ ShariListography click!

4. reading celebrity blogs

I am quite partial to the writings of others. I am in like Flynn, stickybeaking around and whiling away a good couple of hours devouring words. I am a word stalker. Ala Paredes, Saab Magalona and Patty Laurel were my favorite bloggers. They continue to deliver such great content. All of them were truly unique women who possessed such amazing blogging style. Truth be told, I have always been a reader for as long as I can remember. 

Check out their cool blogs
alas-dos.tumblr.com
isabellamagalona.com
dapattylaurel.blogspot.com

5.  Over accessorizing
I get all my fashion inspiration from all over.  I don't really have one celeb in particular that I follow for style. Can’t pick between two different necklaces? Well, I'm wearing both.  Right now I'm all about embellishing to extremes. No longer confined to having to choose between bracelets, rings and all sorts of other shiny things. One of my favorite accessories to wear is scarves! They are so comfortable, cozy, and stylish. You have a wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, shapes, and sizes to choose from. They are affordable and add instant chic to any outfit. 

I could probably go on with more things I am loving right now but those are the highlights :)
If you could choose 5 things you're in love with right now, what would they be?

In grim spirit no more

I've always been fairly ok with the idea of putting my thoughts in a public space, but lately I haven't had a whole lot I've wanted to share. So here it is.

Thesis is a requirement to graduate and in my college life this is the most challenging activity. Mind you individual ang thesis sa Socio. 

Since I’m now done with my thesis I'm happy as a clam. 

My thesis entitled "Interracial marriage and cultural adjustments: A study of Filipino women and Caucasian men marriages at Burol Main, Dasmarinas, Cavite." 

Living in the Philippines, I was intrigued by the numerous intercultural couples here; my feelings for doing this study were ones of personal interest. This interest in cultures, intimate relationships, and thoughts other Filipino women had about this issue has created a desire within me to know more. 

 

interviewing one of my respondents

3 Intercultural couples were sampled for my study.  After interviewing my three respondents and after analyzing their written life story and interview data to find an issue to compare and contrast between the three, it was very apparent that all three of them have had very 

different, yet interesting experiences. 

My clock says 3 am... so sabog!! 

As many of you know, for the past couple of weeks I've definitely been having the sleepless nights and yes the occasional worry. I’m usually a very good sleeper. The amount of stress I am under is so overwhelming I am surprised that my body hasn't shut down under the pressure of the chronic stress. And I still have so much to do that it feels like my life will end the day after my defense. 

PS. Notice how I love wearing black shirts.

I finally defended my thesis in a presentation last October 10. Monday was the big day for me. Mom and dad woke up early and we had breakfast together.  I arrived a little bit early.  I was super nervous to present.  I remember thinking that I was going to pass out. I put a great deal of work into researching and writing my thesis and I just wanted that to show through my nerves. In 6pm my defense began. Oh my god I was a blithering idiot during my defense.  My voice cracked. Even when I read my stuff, I stumble over words. Overall the presentation went wenkwank. I expected all those major criticisms and suggestions  on ways I could strength things here and there, plus ideas for future avenues of research..  It’s hard to believe that all that hard and steady work culminated in a few minutes. So, what’s the first thing I did after my defense? I cried! I went home late that night and burst into tears, thinking, "Is that it?"  I could have done better. I think the fatigue and stress all caught up to me in that moment. 

I went back to school the very next day to submit my OJT terminal report. My adviser has repeatedly told me that nothing to worry about because I passed. What a relief that is! October 11 was my most successful night of sleep, and it consisted of 13 hours of sleep. Talk about paying my sleep debt. 

Yesterday, I submitted the final copy of my thesis and had that sense of completion. And just like that my thesis has been over! I passed!  I felt proud  of the end product. 

The deed is done, and I may not look at my thesis again for a few years.