Video: MOVITS!

Thursday, April 30, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments

The week so far has been an interesting arrangement of ups and downs for me, but today started rather low. It's not nice to wake up and find you have no water (again!). It's worse when you discover the pipes you just had repaired the other day have busted another furious leak. Out in the cold, rainy street. The plumber won't be able to do anything until the rain lets up. (le sigh.)

I'm really thankful for good friends, and good friends who send you awesome stuff on StumbleUpon, are even better.

Before we present to you the star of our post, here's what Aurgasm.us has to say about them:

“Django guitar, windy street swing; music for both art directors and for your mother” is how MOVITS! describe their sound. Well-known in Sweden, but unheard of elsewhere, they fold together elements of 1930’s big band swing, roma swing and rhythm & blues, then drop hiphop vocals on top for some serious energetic firepower.


Ladies and gents, I present you MOVITS!


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Video: Mariah Carey -- Touch My Body

Monday, April 27, 2009 Jonette 2 Comments

Hi everyone! I know this is a bit old, but do bear with me.

James and I just watched Mariah Carey's music video for her single Touch My Body. You usually won't find her on our playlists, but her video is really, really funny. It's awesome that a pop star like her has a quirky sense of humor, and that she's cool with making fun of herself! Two thumbs up from James and me! :D

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Happy Birthday, Master Bill!

Thursday, April 23, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments

Photo courtesy of The Weblicist.


Today is William Shakespeare's Birthday! (or so some experts say -- either way, it's still definitely worth celebrating!) ^_^*


The Bard was a big and well-loved part of my college days, and still gives me fond memories of his works on stage. Being a Theater Major back then, your college life just wasn't complete when you didn't go see a Shakespeare play, specially when it was directed my Professor José Estrella.

I really, really loved watching her do Shakespeare because she somehow manages to inject new life into the Bard's works, and I don't just mean Hamlet-in-a-corporate-setting treatment.

She gave Macbeth a whole new face by setting it in the ethnic tribal system of the Bontoc, and it all made perfect sense. Think of Hermione and Leontes playing Tag as an opening scene for The Winter's Tale, Hermione heavy with child. A wheelchair-bound, enfeebled Leontes at the beginning of the second act, shrinking in the dark against a projection of a home-made video of his family, his wife smiling, blowing kisses, waving at the camera.

There were also happy parts she directed. Think of a winsome Perdita, flowers in her hair, making her entrance on a swing lowered from upstage right, and swinging into the audience! Think of Rosalind from As You Like It, getting a boyish make-over set to Cake's Short Skirt, Long Jacket. Florizel being a cute, mild-mannered, nerdy-looking guy in black-rimmed prescription glasses.



Amazing. In my boyfriend's words, Ma'am Jose made Shakespeare awesome sauce. ^_^*

Good times. Real good times.

I now leave you with yet another onstage production whose concept may be as off-kilter awesome. The poster, if you please:



Nope, not a joke, folks. Shakesploitation! Is a real, honest-to-goodness production, and proves to show the Bard is still as bad-ass as he was centuries ago. Fun, no?

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Rain is love

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Jonette 2 Comments



This morning was a welcome surprise, and a most welcome break from the sultry, humid heat of an Asian summer. It's a very rainy day today, and I honestly love it.

On the way to work, I spotted a Piaggio scooter -- made into a mini-pick-up truck. ^__^* It was pretty amazing, really. I think the compartment at the back could have held three to four giant tuna fish, or two very woolly sheep comfortably. I was laughing and smiling to myself on the jeep, and the other passengers wondered what the hell was so special about the Piaggio. Oh well.

I've lately been plodding on with my pattern for my corset entry to the corset-making contest at work. I've so far created a front bodice pattern, and a back bodice pattern, the basic kind you learn when you start dressmaking. Er, I really won't use the front bodice pattern ( que horor!), but I did need a certain measurement on it to create the back bodice pattern's seam line. (that'd be the edge that goes down your sides inside your clothes.) the back bodice, I will need -- that, plus an underbust corset pattern (which I plan to draft tonight), and some carefully-places shoulder-straps.

I'm also happy that I've finally found a pattern for Clair's commission scarf. Ack! I know, I know... it's been a terribly long time, but I've finally found something I hope she will love. Work is in progress...







Thanks to Mikhal, a good college buddy of mine, I was introduced to this knitting pattern from WikiHow. I know it doesn't look very checkered-y, but I still am very happy with how it's turning out. :)

I most certainly intend to make a dress similar to this one on Miss Sarai of Sweet Sassafras. It looks so delightful and cheery! I'd like to try making it with my blue knotty cotton, though. I hope I can make it in time for summer. Still, corset and commissions come first. ;)

James and I have never been better, and I am so thankful and I love my life right now. it's a quiet thrill deep down inside me when I see our plans are slowly growing piece by tiny piece. something big and grand is waiting to happen, and can't wait for all that beauty to explode!

I wish you, dear reader, beauty and love in your life too. Tell me what makes Life beautiful for you today.


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Webbie Spotlight: How Not To be Hated on Facebook

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments

TIME offers 10 tips on how to mind your manners on FaceBook, or any social networking website, for that matter. YourTango.com put together this neat video. Watch and learn. ;)

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Be Happy!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments



It's the only way to be. I guarantee.

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Kids! :D

Monday, April 20, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments

I just had to post this story, taken from this page. enjoy! ^____^*


The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees was absent but had not phoned in sick one day. Needing to have an urgent problem with one of the main computers resolved, he dialled the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. ‘ Hello ? ‘

‘Is your daddy home?’ he asked.

‘ Yes ,’ whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?’

The child whispered, ‘ No .’

Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, ‘Is your Mummy there?’ ‘ Yes ‘

‘May I talk with her?’ Again the small voice whispered, ‘ No ‘

Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, ‘Is anybody else there?’

‘ Yes , ‘ whispered the child, ‘ a policeman . ‘

Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, ‘May I speak with the policeman?’

‘ No, he’s busy , ‘ whispered the child.

‘Busy doing what?’

‘ Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman , ‘ came the whispered answer.

Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, ‘What is that noise?’

‘ A helicopter ‘ answered the whispering voice.

‘What is going on there?’ demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive. Again, whispering, the child answered,

‘ The search team just landed a helicopter ‘

Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, ‘What are they searching for?’

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle…

‘ ME ! ‘

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Snap-Happy: Print Mania!

Saturday, April 18, 2009 Jonette 6 Comments



Hi, everyone. Remember when I said I'd write about the second half of our adventures in Aduana and Quiapo? Well, here we are.

After an hour spent in the corridors of Tabora browsing through cloth swatches, shopping for sewing notions, and finding our way back out to sunlight and fresh air, Mary and I decided we'd had enough of the fecund grunge and grit of Quiapo. High time for a retreat to sterile civilization -- a sink to wash up in, a sit-down meal, and air-conditioning in Tutuban Central Mall. (Oh, those were the days when we feared neither smoke nor dust nor unwashed men... XD)

Fed, watered, and gussied up, we began exploring the stalls around for gifts to bring home to our significant others. We got delightfully sidetracked, however, by a textile store on the second floor.

I do have the feeling I'll be back. Quite often.




















I do declare, I sincerely do have a weakness for this one.







les cerices!





























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Video: Misseri Studios

Saturday, April 18, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments

Hereare three short videos that tickled me this early afternoon. Wow, European kids sure have it lucky if they have cartoons like this every Saturday morning! :)





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and my family just keeps getting bigger. ^_^*

Friday, April 17, 2009 Jonette 1 Comments

This past Easter Monday, Mary and I hied off to Aduana, the Pier area in Manila to help me buy my very own first sewing machine. (I do say "my very own first" because this was the first sewing machine I bought with my own well-earned money. It's a very good feeling, it is. ^_^*)

We started our trip from Cubao, and drove, drove, drove past Quiapo, past Intramuros, even past the Manila Hotel. Upon arrival, I was thrilled to find the shops were so close to the newspaper presses near the harbor. It brought back fond memories of my father and I driving through those gates, sharing a small bottle of Coke, and spending some quality time talking about creativity with Dong Ampil De Los Reyes for my thesis. He's a writer with a mind, body, and soul to be reckoned with, and I do say he is the Kurt Vonnegut of our shores. (no, Sir Dong, I'm not taking that back. :D)


The Pier in Manila has earned its notoriety for being the dumping ground for Japanese appliance overruns sold at astoundingly cheap prices. Have money and good haggling skills ready, and you're good to go. Just don't forget to pick up a transformer for your new purchase if you don't want it to fry. Where else can you find a 21-inch flat screen TV for around P5,000, or a washing machine for P4,000? (That's roughly $100 and $80, respectively.)

Or in my case, a Holiidaynu Bernina package (complete feet, extending table, knee lift, cables and instruction manual -- in hiragana, unfortunately -- included), with a free baby transformer, fresh needles, and high speed bobbin winders thrown in?

And all for the tidy price of P3,000? No, scratch that -- I very nicely asked for a discount on the beauty, and the storekeeper closed the deal at P2,800. (that's about $60, reduced to $56.)

First, a couple quick clips of the store we visited -- one of the many peppering the Pier walk -- with the ever-lively and lovely Mary:










We certainly enjoyed that a little bit, didn't we? ^_^ Mary, Mary, quite contrary, what a dear she is. I wouldn't have my baby home without her, and that's God's honest truth. She had me over for a spell at her gorgeous home and spoilt me with silvanas and chocolate-striped suman from Bacolod, and let me drive her cat and two dogs nuts. :D Thank you, luv! :D

And as promised, the unveiling at home!

Ta-dah!












but does the adventure end here? Oh no, dearie me! There's still more fun and stories and pictures to be had with our denouement, coming to you soon in the next blog post! Stick around for it. ;)

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This day has been mad-productive and mad-amazing.

Monday, April 13, 2009 Jonette 0 Comments

(or alternately entitled WahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaHA! Try sustaining that.)

Officemate and sewing gal pal Mary and I took a trip to the Pier area and Divisoria today to have an adventure, and indeed, much adventure, energy, and laughs were there to be had. I'm finally home, bathed, dressed, and settled down. I'd really love to write about our exploits, but my body has been slipping in, ehem, subtle clues that it wants Me time. (try going out like a light at half-hour intervals for subtlety. Ha!)

I do promise all you lovely people a good story in time, but let me leave you with something to keep you in suspended animation:



Ta-ta for now. :)

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