See you later, DLSU.

I know this is a month late, but whatever. I'm gonna post it anyway!

As of October 11, 2014, I am officially a graduate of De La Salle University-Manila.

• First, I would like to say thank you to my parents for sacrificing so much, working hard and supporting my siblings and I just so we can all get a top quality education. I hope I have made you proud.
• I would like to say thank you to the university for accepting me into their school and providing me grade A education and top of the line materials and equipment. Although DLSU was not my first choice, I'm thankful that I ended up there.
• I would like to say thank you to my professors. Even though I was one of those patapon students, too lazy to send in their works on time, sometimes not even sending them at all, doodling in class, and basically just not reciting, thank you for the insights that all of you have shared to my fellow students and I. You professors don't know it, but I do listen.
• I would like to say thank you to my blockmates. I may have strayed from the pack, but you guys have made my first year in DLSU a little less scary. It's a shame I didn't hang out with you guys more.
• I would like to say thank you to my organization, Green Giant FM. You are the best family anyone could ask for and you guys have made my stay in DLSU an amazing one. Joining GGFM was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I'm not good with long farewell speeches, but I hope all of these thank yous would suffice. I will miss the student life, but hey, maybe one day I'll go back to doing academics. Art school!

But for now, off to the real world!

Incoming Mail: Purple Snail Mail

I finally received the colour swap snail mail from a fellow TPS member named Emily!

I would like to thank her for the eraser and roll of washi tape. And the envelope is just beautiful.

I really love it when snail mailers put all their heart, soul, and creative juices into their mail art.

xoxo

- Kat

Incoming Mail: Finland

Tired from the unbearable heat and commute today, my day got better after seeing a beautifully designed envelope on the kitchen counter. I knew it came from my pen pal Heidi from Finland.

And let me just say, the letter, the envelope, and the ephemera are just so beautiful. Heidi's amazing at designing!

Look at all the wonderful ephemera! She also included an 'About Heidi' card.

And the snail mail included a Mail Tag! I wonder what Mail Tag I can do for her.

xoxo

-Kat :3

Freebies and Goodies!

I received a lot of cool freebies during the Hagapigi Begertdegey product launch party and just seeing them made me smile. 

Nostalgia has taken over me. (╥_╥)

I mean, look at all that cool stuff! All these toys and candies reminded me so much of my childhood. 

To my Filipino friends, do you guys remember any of these?

I also got some free stickers and a plastic wallet/business card holder of the modern era.

 And it was a sort of Treat Yo Self day for me as well. I bought a few things, three of which are for postal purposes.

xoxo

- Kat :3

Summer Reading

I'm happy to report that my love for reading has not waned!

I've been spending so much time reading academic books and essays, that I haven't had the time to do some leisurely reading. So I made a promise to myself that this summer, I will read as much novels as I can before school starts.

My favorite from my summer reading list would have to be The Virgin Suicides. The novel was so enthralling that I refuse to let the book down. The story of the Lisbon girls just sucked me right in.

I even plan on making artworks inspired by The Virgin Suicides.

Kotonoha no Niwa: Emotional Climax

A faint clap of thunder

Even if the rain comes not,

I will stay here, together with you

Kotonoha no Niwa: The First Meeting

A faint clap of thunder

Clouded skies, perhaps rain comes

Will you stay here with me?

Internship

After a month of trying to find places to apply to for my practicum, I'm finally doing my internship at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design! Better late than nothing.

(taken from the MCAD FB page)

The office is very nice and my supervisor is very sweet. And I also get my own work space.

And I've already been given a lot of different jobs for my first week of internship. I have to make a script for a video, write, proofread, and edit press and advertisement materials, contact different institutions, help with some manual work, and, with the MCAD's upcoming installation in less than two weeks, I've been asked to be an invigilators cum docent during the month long exhibition, a job I gladly accepted.

xoxo

- Kat :3

Twinkies!

I will be judged when I say this, but then again I do live in the Philippines and they don't ship Hostess snack products here (creys). Anywho, I would just like to announce that I have finally had a taste of my first ever Twinkie!

Soft, moist, sweet, I am in love with these things! Too bad I only have two Twinkies left (more creys).

YUM!

Okay. I only have one left (even more creys).

I swear. These things are the equivalent of angels sent from heaven! But in spongy, yellow, cream-filled form.

I would really like to thank my very good friend for granting my request of getting me Twinkies as pasalubong.

xoxo

- Kat :3

Best gifts EVER.

This is a very late post because I just got the SD card for my camera back from my uncle.

Anywho, last Friday, I went to Cubao X again for some double date bonding time and got the sweetest gifts ever from Chris.

from left to right: Manikako DIY doll, yellow paisley bag, wooden paint palette, bottles of oils, varnish, and cleaner, 24 oil paint set, table top easel, and two panel canvases

I got a table top easel, a 24 oil paint set, linseed oil, 3-in-1 oil painting medium, super fine retouch varnish, cleaner (for the oil paint), two panel canvases, and a wooden paint palette. I'm extremely happy because I finally get to practice oil painting, which, by the way, is very difficult.

I also included a couple of things I bought in the photo: a yellow bag with paisley prints and a Manikako DIY doll. Not only did I buy myself a purdy bag and a crafts doll, but I also helped out a charity that funds free art workshops for Filipino children in need.

I'll make a post about the Manikako doll's makeover soon.

More adventures to come!

xoxo
- Kat :3

Here's to you, 2013.

(click photo for a clearer picture)

Such lovely, lovely stickers!

Although they're Php50 ($1.12) per pack of three to four random stickers, I couldn't help myself! They are just so cute and I was told that the owner of the shop made the designs himself/herself. I ended up buying three packs and I might come back to the store to buy more designs.

And I'll be sure to come back to buy one of their adorable bags too.

xoxo
- Kat :3

Cubao X Adventure. Finally!

Eliza, Nico, Chris, and I went to Cubao X yesterday. Considered to be a very hipster place, I would very much like to agree. It's like a tiny shopping strip with cafes, bars, restaurants, clothes, vinyls, and vintage antique collectibles.

We ended up hanging out in The Appraisery, a cafe made for geeks and the geek-at-heart. Aside from their really good frappes and paninis, and the interesting decor, it's also a place for people to play Dungeons & Dragons, card games like Magic: The Gathering, and board games. Oh! And they also have extremely cool books for customers to read. They even have the new Neil Gaiman book, Fortunately, The Milk, illustrated by the talented Skottie Young.

We spent the whole day playing board games, we didn't get the chance to walk around and check out the vintage shops while they were still open. I was hoping to buy something in this one store, but they closed up early. Oh well. There's always next time. And hey, The Appraisery will probably be our new hang out place tee hee.

A day of fun, laughs, and saving the world. I can't wait for our next adventure.

xoxo

- Kat :3

Vacation Activity #1: Reading List

I haven't read anything non-academic related in such a long time, I've decided to let my creative juices flow again by coming up with a reading list of novels I have but never had a chance to read.

First, I have Zombies vs. Unicorns, a book edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier and features stories from authors such as Meg Cabot, Cassandra Clare, and Scott Westerfeld. I've actually started reading the book, but I've never had the time to finish it, so I plan to finish reading the whole book this time around.

Next, I have The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, a book I have always planned on reading, but never bothered to look for (or forgot to look for) whenever I'm in a bookstore. I'm extremely happy my boyfriend gave me his copy of it as a gift. It's hardbound and it even has a super pretty cover design tee hee!

And last, I have Diary by Chuck Palahniuk. This is the first Palahniuk book I've ever heard of, but not the first book of his that I've read. I have read Fight Club, Choke, and Snuff, but now, I can't wait to read Diary. It seems interesting and I feel like it'll be a great read.

xoxo

- Kat :3

VACATION MODE!

I am officially on Christmas vacation.

No more books to read, exams to study for, and papers to write.

BUM MODE ON!!!

xoxo

- Kat :3

Sweater Alert: Christmas Sweater

Christmas is just around the corner and what could be more festive than a Christmas sweater? 

I bought my first official Christmas sweater at Terranova (on sale) for Php1095 ($24.81). It was Php500 ($11.33) off the original price! Would you believe that?

Although it doesn't snow in the Philippines, and wearing a thick sweater isn't a norm, the weather becomes a bit more chillier around late November, which makes me extremely happy because I can finally wear my sweaters.

I might make a post about my sweater collection soon, so better watch out for that!

xoxo
- Kat :3