Dalagang Filipina to Stylish Me!

When I posted this refashion in my FB account, a college friend of mine commented "Before: Dalagang Filipina After: Modern day and stylish Joyce Ann." Thus the title of this post. :) Well, my friend is not exaggerating. This dress really looks like a Dalagang Filipina look, very old fashioned!

But before I start with any refashioning, I notice big holes in the top part.

Instead of fixing it, I decided to just cut it all! 

Then I start taking in 2 inches on both sides and sew it.

I thought it will be nice if I tried a sweetheart neckline. So that's exactly what I did.

My almost finish dress needed straps and a sash.

Finally, it's ready for a pictorial! I wore it to my cousin's wedding! :)

Perfect for Church Dress

The easiest and simplest refashion you can do to update a dress is to shorten it.

Now I have a dress perfect for church. I wore it for Christmas Eve's mass. :)

Another Dress Refashion

No one is that busy. Its just a matter of prioritizing things. So I won't make excuses why its been a while since I've done a refashion. I guess I've been a little uninspired but I have been doing little repairs every now and then. Until I found this:

When I found it I knew I can make a better use of it. Like making it more wearable. :) So first stop, cutting the garter.

Second stop, cutting it into two pieces of rectangular fabrics like these:

Then, the V neckline.

Now time for some real sewing! First the shoulders, then the sides.

I'm not happy with the length so I make it a little shorter.

There you have it! A kimonoish kind of dress. Go try it! :)

On Being Angry

(Random Post muna...)

When I open my FB account today, the first thing I read was this word "T*ngna, blah blah blah." For me, it's just not right. Don't get me wrong. I respect that person's post. I'm pro expression of emotions. Why do you think I have two blogs? I write here everything I feel, my opinions, and once in a while my emotions. And I am not a hypocrite to say I don't get angry! In fact, I used to be very very very angry to the world. I used to blame everyone but myself in my failures. I used to question God's interference in my life. I USED to be that kind of person. Then I came across this quote:

"He who angers you, conquers you."

I don't want to be conquered by people, things, trials, problems that angered me. I am mightier than any of them. I learn to let go of petty angst that can overpower my whole being. And you know what? I've never been happier and contented with my life.

I am not saying don't get angry! But please choose your battle. Choose what anger would conquer you. Me? I am angry at those who take the lives of others because they think they are God! I am mad at corrupt officials! I am enraged to child molesters! I am furious with all the rapist and snatchers and holdapers and gangs and riding-in-tandems! And I hate ebola virus!

And yeah, just so you know, I don't like profanity too especially when we know FB is not for adult only these days. Not cool. So next time, you got angry, just CHILL!!!

Sinless Cookies

This is the easiest cookies I've done so far. And it only has four ingredients. But what it lacks in ingredients more than makes up for its taste. It's healthy not to mention delicioso.

With this recipe, you will need:

All you have to do is combine them.

Then it's ready for baking! 

(Flatten this spoonful of dough before baking)

And you're done!

My Christmas List

I'm the type of person who is very outspoken when it comes to gifts. For example, when Riley celebrated his first birthday, I gave our guests choices of what to give. It's more practical that way because first, it was what Riley needed most and second, it would sure be put to good use. Also, they won't have to think hard on what to give my son, right? Its a win-win situation! I'm not ashamed to tell people what present/s I want because I don't want to end up with stuff I don't need.

That being said, I won't play hard to get this Christmas! I'm writing this list so you can have ideas on what I want on this season of giving (and receiving!). I could buy all these myself but if you like to give me any of these, sino ba naman ako para tumanggi? :)

Eyeglass from Four Eyes. I've been joining this website's contest for three times now but, alas, I've never won anything! So please if you have a heart of gold give me the gift of cool eyeglass!

Jumpstart frame for only Php 1995.

iPhone speaker dock. Riley and I love singing and dancing! If you ever saw us sing or dance around in our house, you would see that we need a speaker for our only source of music - my iPhone.

Philips AD200 Docking Speaker for iPod/iPhone (Black). Available at Lazada for Php 1894.

Spy Camera watch. The only accessory I wear is a watch. I have few watches now but I 'd like to own this special watch. It has hidden camera and sound recording. It's gonna be helpful just in case I ran into trouble. But I pray to God I would never have to use that features ever.

Watch from Lazada for Php1999.

The Fault In Our Stars. Before I buy a book, I read its eBook version first. You know, so that I can check if its worth buying or not. I've read this book and love it! So yeah it's worth having and adding in my book collection. 

The Fault in Our Stars at National Bookstore for only Php 399.

Backjoy Posture - Long hours sitting while using the computer gives me a backache nowadays. So give me the gift of comfort!

Backjoy Posture+  for Php 2,990.

(Kiosk located at SM North Edsa Annex 2nd floor)

Panasonic Lumix GM1. A micro four thirds camera the size of a digicam but with the capabilities of a DSLR with interchangeable lens. Who wouldn't want that?

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM1 with a whooping price of Php 54,053.00. (Naka sale pa yan sa Lazada!)

52 days before Christmas. :) What about you, what's on your Christmas list?

Mariah Carey's The Elusive Chanteuse

I have few prized possessions in my life. And one of them is my Mariah Carey original cassette tape collection.

I've been waiting for her to have a concert again in the Philippines. Her first time here was in 2003 and I remember feeling sad and depress not being able to watch it back then. So imagine my delight when I heard she will have another concert here, for all her Filipino fans! 

Yah. That's the only ticket I can afford. Hehe. Our seat somewhat takes the joy out of the concert. But I console myself, it's her music I came for. And I was trusting my friend's DSLR to take decent photos of Mariah but unfortunately, DSLR are not allowed at MOA Arena. What a hassle. But I still manage to snap pictures of her while performing and some off the side photos. 

Sana totoo ka na lang na si Mariah. Hehe. 

My first time in MOA Arena.

I'm so happy to witness it even if I'm feeling a little bit under the weather that day. She performed some of her hits and some new songs. It was nice to see how much she evolved through the years. She really is one of a kind. Her voice, yung sobrang taas na parang pumipito (sorry, hindi ko alam ang english), is really remarkable. One of a kind. She is undoubtedly talented regardless of what critics are saying about her. No one can sing the way she does. There will only be one Mariah Carey!

Well, that's the end of it. I hope she'll come back again and hopefully I'll be able to buy a VIP tickets! Hehe. I wish! One down in my 20 things before 40 bucket list, 19 to go! :)

Paper Plate Angels

We felt like making an art project this afternoon. So we made one. This time it's an angel out of a paper plate. We have a lot of extra paper plates after we celebrated my son's birthday. It's better to put them to good use after all.

This is so easy. Here's how to:

Cut through the indicated lines

To form the angel, curve the body and slid the wings into one another. Then staple the back.

That's it! It's up to you how to decorate it. You can glue in glitters, or art papers, sequins, even fabrics! Riley and I just use poster paints. Riley is very cooperative. Its one thing he really loves doing - painting! 

I do believe angels are all around us! :)

Christmas Tree Deco

Ever since Riley saw the Christmas countdown in news programs, he has been bugging me to put the Christmas tree up. But I don't feel Christmas yet. Not with this kind of weather! It's so hot these days it feels like summer! So to put an end to Riley's nonstop blabber, we made a Christmas tree kind of wall art deco. At least that will do until the real tree is ready for the merriment. Making it will keep Riley busy too for a while.

First, we trace out circles in different colored construction paper.

Then we cut it. 

Well, it's the effort not the end result. :)

I let him do more circles which he happily obliged. While I get busy doing my perfect circles! :D

Then he started to get distracted. I anticipated that! 

That's when we stop and just play around. This evening, we continued our artsy crafty project.

Riley paste all the circles we I cut. 

One by one.

Then it started to fill up.

Until all the circles were glued to the tree.

He was satisfied.....

....and happy with it.

And now, he has his own Christmas tree!