DARE TO MAKE THE LEAP

Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.

-- John Wayne

I'm currently enjoying Katie Couric's "The Best Advice I Ever Got." It was serendipitous how the book found me, how I found the book. I think it'll be instrumental in the major life events of the coming days. *wink*

From the cover --

What was the tipping point for Malcolm Gladwell? What unscripted event made Meryl Streep who she is? How did Mario Batali cook up his recipe for success? In this inspiration-packed book, Katie Couric reports from the front lines of the worlds of politics, entertainment, sports, philantropy, the arts and business -- distilling the ingenious hard-won insights of leaders and visionaries, who tell us all how to take chances, follow our passions, cope with criticism, and, perhaps most important, commit to something greater than ourselves.

Delightful, empowering and moving, The Best Advice I Ever Got is the perfect book for anyone who is thinking about the future, contemplating taking a risk, or daring to make a leap into the great unknown. This book is for all of us, young or old, who want to see how today's best and brightest got it right, got it wrong, and came out on top.

GOING SOLO

This is a date blog.

But because hubby and I are both independent spirits (we love being together but no we're not clingy), we enjoy Me Time.

What have I done solo?

1. Go to fashion school on my own. (But hubby always made sure he'll be able to pick me up after class.)
2. Shop alone around Manila. (I'm not a group-shopping kind of gal.)
3. Shop alone in a foreign country. (This I love doing! I try to do it every chance I get. Kahit a few hours lang na mag-isa.)
4. Watch a movie. (Once! And that's enough experience, hehe.)
5. Eat out.
6. Eat out, alone, in a foreign country. (Proud of me!)
7. Wait for hubby, family and friends in cafes (books and magazines come in handy).
8. Commute.
9. Go to church.
10. Visit the doctor.
11. Grocery.
12. Gym.

I wonder if I'll survive flying alone, to explore another country by my lonesome, ala-Eat Pray Love? I was supposed to do something like it last year. But my hubby and parents got too scared for my safety so no, it didn't push through. Hats off to every woman who's traveled alone.

Before anyone can enjoy your company, you should be able to enjoy your own. So if you haven't gone solo, I say go! *wink*

MOVIE DATES

Which one was worth the popcorn calories?

TRANSFORMERS 3: DARK of the MOON

Above:

We watched this on 3D for free!

(Oh, life's simple joys!)

Our rating: 3 of 5 popcorn tumblers

Sabay pa kami nang matapos, "Overrated."

But the 3D work was really impressive.

We watched on Day 2, right after hearing

all about the Opening Day hype.

We expected way too much.

IF YOU ARE THE ONE

Above:

2 of 5 popcorn tumblers

(DVD movie date)

Sana rom-com na lang all throughout.

It went dramatic in the middle, na-off ako.

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi's so pretty.

Buti na lang masarap siya panoorin, hehe.

BIUTIFUL

Above:

3 of 5 popcorn tumblers

(DVD movie date)

We liked Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel more.

But Javier Bardem's performance is superb, as usual.

Warning:

Make sure you're in a beautiful mood when you see this one.

Too sad.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS

Above:

4 of 5 popcorn tumblers

We were pleasantly surprised!

Maganda ang storya --

which is always the backbone of a good movie, right?

Bonus: Another title we got to see for free!

Thank you to our "Fairy Godmother."

SUPER 8

Above:

2 of 5 popcorn tumblers

Failed miserably at being 2011's version of E.T.

Good thing we didn't pay for the tickets, hehe.

Another free movie via our "super pass."

RED RIDING HOOD

Above:

2.5 of 5 popcorn tumblers

(DVD date)

It kept us curious -- who's the big, bad, wolf?

We guessed wrong!

Best thing about it: the cinematography.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

Above:

3.5 of 5 popcorn tumblers

(On DVD)

Was pleasantly surprised with this one.

Thought I'd be bored by a period circus film.

Instead, I was so moved by the love story.

Heard the book's even better.

How did you find these titles?

OPENING NIGHT

Barely six months into "serious" photography, hubby's first (group) photo exhibit is up! Claps and snaps! *very proud wife* Could this be proof that anyone may excel in anything he puts his mind and heart into?

Sharing the highlights from opening night...

J: Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2 photo exhibit opened Monday, with National artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Premiere wedding photographer Patrick Uy, along with other members of the prestigious Camera Club of the Philippines, also graced the occasion. But putting one over everyone else is surprise guest, Hayden Kho! Who would've known he's into photography. Isn't he into videography? :)

Above, clockwise:

My writer-photographer-creative director-

martial artist-mountaineer-fencer-medical miracle

Hubby with one of his photos;

Us;

with photography enthusiast Hayden Kho;

ribbon cutting ceremony with hubby's mentor Tilak Hettige,

National Artist BenCab and premiere photographer Patrick Uy.

A: All the photos on display were taken at the BenCab Museum, Baguio City (where I ate and read while their group was at work). The exhibit will run until July 10 (with possibility of being extended according to Tilak) at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Makati City. It's open Monday to Sunday, 10am-7pm. Thanks to every one who've taken the time to drop by (special mention to our friend E who came on opening night). I'll try to post hubby's photos here after the exhibit.

Love on Display

Picture Perfect

Mr. & Mrs. M

MY TOP RAINY DAY SOUPS

Finally, a dry day (but still a gloomy one) for Manila.

All those rainy days and nights made me crave for sabaw (But even on a sunny day, I'm such a soup person, so like my Papa).

My favorites, in random order (excluding my Mama's masasarap na sabaw na malapit ko nang matikman uli!):

• Leslie's bulalo. Sinful. But always enough reason to drive to Tagaytay.
• Via Mare's sinigang na baka. Perfect ang timpla ng asim! And the beef's so tender.
• Recipe's bird's nest. Generous serving (I think it's good for five people so when hubby and I order this, ang dami talaga!). Has always been among my comfort food.
• Sizzling Seafood's sinigang na ulo ng salmon. Salmon's among my top seafood favorites. This one's so affordable, only Php135, good for two (but because hubby's not into salmon, I have it all to myself)!
• Max's hototay soup. Best way to start your fried chicken fest, hehe.
• Pho Hoa's seafood noodle. Tastes so healthy. Love it more with loads of their hot sauce.

Above: Pho Hoa's seafood noodle

Above: Pho Hoa's hot sauce

What's your rainy day soup for the soul?

PROUD WIFE MOMENT

You're all invited to my hubby J's first (group) photo exhibit, "Tilak Hettige's Dawn to Dusk 2," opening on Monday, June 27, at the Camera Club of the Philippines, Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

National Artist Benedicto "Bencab" Cabrera will open the exhibit. Taray! *proud wife moment*

LOVE LETTER FROM THE DEAD

I hope you don't find this entry morbid but death's hanging on my head...

A dear uncle died this week. And I just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife (was so moved that I even watched the film for the second time).

A letter to be opened in the event of my death

December 10, 2006

Dearest Clare,

If you are reading this, I am probably dead...

Clare, I want to tell you, again, I love you. Our love has been the thread through the labyrinth, the net under the high-wire walker, the only real thing in this strange life of mine that I could ever trust. Tonight I feel that my love for you has more density in this world that I do, myself: as though it could linger on after me and surrounded you, keep you, hold you.

Please, Clare. When I am dead. Stop waiting and be free. Of me -- put me deep inside you and then go out in the world and live. Love the world and yourself in it, move through it as though it offers no resistance, as though the world is your natural element.

After my mom died she ate my father up completely. She would have hated it. Every minute of his life since then has been marked by her absence, every action has lacked dimension because she is not there to measure against. And when I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird. If I had to live on without you I know I could not do it. But I hope, I have this vision of you walking unencumbered, with your shining hair in the sun. I have not seen this with my eyes, but only with my imagination, that makes pictures, that always wanted to paint you, shining; but I hope that this vision will be true, anyway.

We will see each other again, Clare. Until then, live, fully, present in the world, which is so beautiful.

It's dark, now, and I am very tired. I love you, always. Time is nothing.

Henry

-- excerpts of Henry's letter to Clare, "The Time Traveler's Wife"

Made me cry.

TRULY A TEAM

Hubby and I, we're my favorite team. Our collaborations at work, at home, and at play are always most fun and most fulfilling.

Here's one of our more recent team projects.

-----

"Taylor Fit"

Written as a FB note by my Hubby

Posted last June 12, 2011

It was a fine Sunday afternoon, with the sunlight dappling through the trees, falling gently on the green grass, seemingly playing with the shadows. We were beneath a cool canopy, breaking the twigs beneath our feet, throwing fallen flowers into the air. It was one of those memorable days when you must have a camera in hand to capture those fleeting moments. And there I was, happily shooting with my camera, taking pictures of Taylor Swift.

Well, not exactly. I was shooting my niece, E. In a Taylor Swift-inspired photoshoot. In a photostory conjured by my wife, A. I wanted to practice my photography. She wanted to practice her styling. And our niece wanted to model. E was channeling Taylor Swift. A was channeling Rachel Zoe. I was channeling Parc Cruz. E posed, A styled, I clicked.

Yes, it was one of those days, when we do something we love with people we love, on a fine Sunday afternoon.

Model: E

Stylist, HMUA, Voice Activated Light Stand, My Wonder Woman Wife: A (Me: *kilig*)

Photographer: J

Special thanks to our dear cousin, P, for making the shoot possible.

For more photos, visit my other blog, mylittleblackbookofstyle.blogspot.com

TODAY'S GIFTS 061911

Today's Gifts:

1) 3-day weekend

2) Bed weather

3) Everything we're waiting for, dumarating isa-isa, on time. Project status: on track.

4) Proud of how my sis P is growing up. Her FB wall is filled with NASA articles and video clips (yes, she wants to be an astronomer) and Justin Bieber updates (yes, she caught the B-fever like every girl in the universe). She's a fun-loving nerd -- I love it! And today, Fathers' Day, she wrote the sweetest FB note for our Papa (It starts with "You're my hero, Papa..."). We must have done something right in raising such a wonderful child. *teary eyed*

5) My brother and I drove to the province this week, to attend the wake and burial of a beloved uncle who's suffered from cancer far too long. It was a blessing to see a family, in the midst of a tragedy, continue to live in love, unity, composure and complete surrender to God's Will. Bilib ako.

Above:

Uncle's hearse - a Hummer!

Sosyal!

6) After death comes life. Another pamangkin is coming our way! My niece S will be an "Ate" soon. We're all too excited! Yey!

God is so good.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS...

Don't you just love dates with long-time friends?

Had dinner with my U.P. barkada to welcome our balikbayan friend T. Food theme: Pinoy so we headed to Abe ("Where good friends meet" as their tagline goes), and then to Mary Grace for dessert.

Beyond Abe's lamb adobo, pork ribs adobo, crispy hito, kare-kare, fried tilapia, dilis rice and Mary Grace's cheese rolls, mas nabusog kami sa kuwentuhan.

The evening's highlights: at least five birthday songs, major 2011 career moves, the RH Bill, building a new home, Australia and Canada, dreaded phone calls, dorm life, feng shui, buhay government employee, and since we're all very showbiz -- Heart and Daniel (who were seated right beside us in Abe), Shirley Fuentes, Coco Martin, Kuya Germs and Birch Tree, and more.

Our sunod-sunod na dates have been very precious lalo na sa mga panahong ito. *wink*

Friends, this song's for all of you...

What would you think if I sang out of tune

Would you stand up and walk out on me

Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song

and I'll try not to sing out of key

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Mm, Gonna try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away

Does it worry you to be alone

How do you feel by the end of the day

Are you sad because you're on your own

No, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Mm,Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody

I need somebody to love

Could it be anybody

I want somebody to love

Would you believe in a love at first sight

Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time

What do you see when you turn out the light

I can't tell you, but I know it's mine

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Oh, Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody

I just need someone to love

Could it be anybody

I want somebody to love

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, Gonna try with a little help from my friends

Oh, I get high with a little help from my friends

Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends,

with a little help from my friends