Reading blogs and writing them have been a huge part of my life in the last ten years (give or take). It makes me really sad that I haven’t been doing that much lately. No thanks to the terrible service we’ve been getting from SkyBroadband. I posted about our ongoing problem with them back in October (Calling @SkyServes), and unfortunately, after giving them several opportunities to redeem themselves, we’re still having this problem.
Our Internet connection has been so unreliable I’ve lost patience waiting and waiting and waiting.
I have had to rely on my phone to check my personal email. Facebook is also limited to mobile, except for the very few times I feel like reloading the page over and over on the PC.
So we’re switching. We’ve put in an application with PLDT for their DSL and we’re just waiting for installation. Hope it pushes through on Wednesday.
If there’s anything good that came out of this, it’s that I’ve had a bit more sleep, and a lot more time making rainbow bands for my fund raising activity – more on this soon!
Ever heard of Rainbow Loom? Apparently it is a popular product for kids and adults and I have seen it mentioned in several family-oriented blogs. Of course I just couldn’t resist checking it out, and so I’ve been watching tutorials for rainbow loom friendship bracelets.
Honestly, reading up on this product and watching the videos was an ultimate throwback to when we were kids. Back then we didn’t have brightly colored rubber bands, but I would go in debt buying the ones available!
We didn’t use them as bracelets or anything though, we just joined them together to make skipping ropes.
So then I began thinking why would anyone spend on a loom when this can be done with just the bands and one’s own fingers? No need for c clips either, we would just tie them off. After watching the vids it began to be clear that with the loom, design options became limitless! Check out this more intricate design. I can also understand how making them can be addicting for adults and not just the kids. The young ones really just want to wear the end product, while the bigger ones may find making them a little therapeutic and keeps their hands busy.
The creator of the Rainbow Loom was a former crash-test engineer with Nissan, and a father of two girls. Read their story of success as told by the New York Times. Fantastic, isn’t it? I love how an idea just blossoms into something really special.
So amazed I was with the bright and cute bands that I went in search for it locally. I found sellers, but they were about twice the retail price on Amazon, and very expensive. There is a knock-off, a different brand, Loom Bandz, at a very low price. I’m ordering and we’ll see if it’s fun to make. Haha. If they’re any good, might give sets as gifts too, or whatever. It is after all, the time to start Christmas shopping. I’m thinking of giving gifts that encourage imagination and creativity. This seems like a good one, and definitely more pocket-friendly for a ninang like me than those exciting student guitars at guitar center. Hehe.
I can’t resist, here’s another video of a design I liked, chevron:
Do you find yourself getting hooked to the latest craze like myself?
The country has been bracing for this Super Typhoon Yolanda for days. At first, it seemed like we had triumphed over her, but as we gain access to the worst hit areas, we are learning just how much devastation she left behind in the Philippines.
As of latest official count, there are about 134 casualties. After what we’ve seen in the footages, and what we’ve heard from journalists and people on the ground, that seems like a very conservative count. The poor communication lines, and island-wide power outage, are probably keeping the officials from confirming the numbers.
But no matter how many, or how few lives were lost, it is still one or a hundred too many.
Dr. Mahar Lagmay of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) was interviewed on ANC today, and it was mentioned how the government has actually allocated money for advanced equipment to forecast weather conditions. He said too that the PAG-ASA and NDRRMC actually released an accurate model showing the path of Super Typhoon Yolanda. They were able to predict where it will hit landfall and identify the areas that will be most hit. The warnings were given, and resources were mobilized. It is sad though that some people still chose to stay in low-lying areas, and sadder still that identified evacuation areas were also submerged when the sea came rushing inland.
Storm surges are not new. We’ve heard it mentioned before. But it looks like no layman actually understood what it meant, until now.
Atom Araullo’s coverage in the morning of November 8 has been played over and over. One minute he was out on the road showing everyone how strong the winds were, and how rain was falling in every direction. Next thing the viewers knew, he had gone up the building where his crew was to take shelter, and the water had come rushing into the city.
The people were ready for the strongest typhoon in the sense that they left their homes and sought shelter in identified evacuation centers. Multi-purpose halls, gyms, and schools, were the usual areas. But it wasn’t just the wind and debris they needed shelter from, water brought in by the storm surges proved to be the biggest concern.
Dr. Lagmay said that storm surges were nothing new, and the warnings indicated the high probability of having them. So why weren’t appropriate evacuation centers identified? Why have the people relocate from the shoreline to one-story structures inland? Perhaps, it was really a lack of understanding of what exactly storm surges are. Now we know. Next time, we’ll know better.
Here’s hoping that the spirit of bayanihan once again prevails and sees us through this ordeal as one united people. Here’s praying that when we rebuild, we rebuild with the lessons of this experience well considered. Here’s to wishing that when we look back to remember YolandaPH, it is resilience and pakikipagkapwa that we see, and not the looting of Gaisano.
Indeed, the Filipino spirit is waterproof. This has been proven time and again. But much needs to be done in the hard hit areas. Road clearing, delivery of goods and services, rebuilding. Many homes were washed out, even businesses. Let’s extend any help we can, here’s a few channels:
My inner shopaholic has been temporary satiated: I received two deliveries – a bag and a new pair of shoes! It just so happens that this shopper digs both brick and mortar shops as much as their online counterparts. In fact, I’m somehow even more partial to the online shops because I admire the entrepreneurs behind them. And when they sell locally made products, I’m hooked even more. So I’ve decided to feature reliable shops I’ve bought from, starting with today’s post.
La Bolsa
My dream bag is not an LV or a Birkin. I’d love to have them too, but I tend to lean on the more realistic dream so I’m betting on the Tod’s D Styling Bag.
I wanted one so badly that we went to Greenbelt after shift one day to check out the store. I’m a true blue QC girl and am totally unfamiliar with Greenbelt and the interconnected malls in Makati. Research told me which Greenbelt the Tod’s store was located in, but not where to park so you’d be close enough. We drove, we parked, and we ended up having to walk, and walk, and walk, all the way to the right place, and back again after. It was tiring! Was it worth it? Not really. I ended up really disappointed. The store was there yes, a nice small D Styling bag was actually available. But when I asked the sales person about the price – it took a few seconds for me to respond as I mustered all the grace I had to say, with my OM face, Oh, I see. Thanks. Do you have it in blue?
Alfred didn’t hear her, he was busy looking at other styles he thought I might like. So he was surprised when I tugged at him and indicated it was time to leave, with us just being at the store under 10 minutes. He only understood when I told him how much a bag was. Haha!
So if I couldn’t have a D bag now, I figured I’d look for a bag in a deep dark (but somehow bright) blue. The Baghag has a blue Tod’s D Bag and I absolutely love looking at her travel photos that also featured it, hehe. Here it is on the left side, lovely shade, no? (photo credit all hers, hope she doesn’t mind me grabbing it from her site!)
Now, I finally have beautiful deep blue bag.
I ordered a plain blue Chloe bag from La Bolsa (@michellego on Instagram) on Tuesday, and it was delivered to my doorstep the very next day. Apart from ordering over the phone, I also didn’t have to go anywhere to make a payment. They agree to COD (cash on delivery) for Metro Manila orders. Cool!
This bag costs Php 1000 in total, inclusive of Php 100 shipping fee. It measures 15×9, roomy enough for all the stuff I tote around daily, including my Mason jar I have yet to use it, but am already excited to.
La Bolsa bags are proudly Philippine made. Follow them on Instagram @michellego and order yours today!
As for the Tod’s D bag, Someday.
Do you have a dream bag? I know not everyone understands what bag lust is, just like not everyone could justify getting an electric guitar, or more than one pair of original Jordan kicks. So if not a dream bag, do you have any other dream item out there?
I recently finished one of her books, Riversong. She’s an author whose blog I started reading way before learning about the books she’d written.
Her blog, Tess Thompson – Inspiration for Ordinary Life, is a beautiful blog. Some blogs I keep going back to because of the author’s wit or because of lovely photos and visuals. Others because of the recipes and lovely food photography. But with this blog, it’s all about the writing.
She has a way with words that I could only wish I had. I don’t even have the words to describe it. But a page off her blog is like a full story. Read this one, Jumping Into the Green, and I think you’ll know what I mean.
I read her blog and then think about my own. How mine is so different, and how I’d love to write as beautifully as she does. But I don’t, and I still keep writing. I figure if I write about interesting blogs like hers, and practice practice practice, I’ll eventually find my voice and no longer be insecure about my blog or my writing. Maybe.
I have yet to use it, but am already excited to.