Road Closures and Getting Tasks Done

 I am feeling rather productive today because of the tasks that I have crossed off my list. This includes: 

1. Executive Order on Road Closure for Bridge Widening
2. Opening Message for E-Commerce Site Community Tour 
3. Letter of Request for Re-Inspection 

And other tasks for upcoming events. 

Why do I suddenly feel on top of the world just by accomplishing certain tasks? 

The list goes on and I still have other pending tasks but I feel pretty pleased of myself, sort of a temporary high to boost my ego until I become overwhelmed again lol. 

Taking Advantage of Gloomy Days

 I've known it and can feel it in my bones, this is the type of weather that I was born for. 

It's gloomy and cold, and I don't know why but cold weather makes me feel alive. 

I love that it's cool and I can just go on and on when it comes to writing. As long as I have eaten and have music in the background.

Now the thought of finishing and going through my defense and then graduating got me excited. I said earlier that what we do in a group tends to rub off on each other. And that's what I am doing right now. Chloie's determination to finish her paper inspired me to also finish mine. Guess that's a blessing for me to be surrounded by people who have similar ambitions. 

And that's a good thing... 

Unboxing and Review | Rapoo K800 Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard + What Happened to my Laptop’s Keyboard

 Hey, I’m a writer, not a fighter LOL.

So when my laptop’s keyboards gave me issues, the first impulse was to have it looked at by technicians. I brought my unit to a local repair shop. Then Carl was able to pick it up after three days. The diagnosis was that the flex cable had to be replaced and the keys had to be cleaned. They even gave me a week’s warranty.

But, alas, the same problem occurred and we even shelled out money for it. However, I have deadlines and assignments. I opted to try another option, and that is to have a Bluetooth keyboard on hand.

This Rapoo K800 Wireless USB Keyboard is my third unit after Carl bought me the Rapoo E1050, and the Manhattan KW1 Ultra Slim Wireless USB Keyboard after that. I loooove the Rapoo keyboard. It’s smooth, effortless, and lightweight. I absolutely have no complaints. But it also meant added baggage to my gear every day. I lug around my 14-inch laptop, mouse, notebooks, and my personals in a bag, plus my new wireless keyboard.

I thought that I need another one for the office so that I could leave the first one at home. I opt to do some productive stuff at home, such as freelance writing, obligations for school, and vlogging.

Well, I tried to extend my patience with the Manhattan Slim chiclet keyboard but to no avail.

I saw in a video that I need to press more keys to make sure all of them work and have a smooth response, so that’s what I did for a period. But it hurt my fingers in the long run. And I know that I deserve something smooth and portable.

I didn’t realize how important the keyboard is until after I became frustrated with it.

And I do miss writing on the laptop’s keyboards.

I told myself that once I am able to save up for a new laptop, I might be able to move to the iOS ecosystem if the budget permits. Perhaps that transition can grow old with me and I can do good with vlogging and my freelance writing gigs on the side. I need efficient gear in order to be productive so I can focus on writing more.

Review:

I love that it is lightweight and quite portable. I can pick it up with one hand. It can fit in my backpack. When I’m done, I can keep it in my drawer.

It also looks good on my desk when it’s set up.

I think it is going to be handy especially if I decide to bring it along during travels. 

It’s Planner Season….

And that means that I’m already in the market for next year’s planner.

Ever since I’ve entered the corporate world, I’ve listed all my activities and schedules in a planner because I can’t afford to miss a deadline. Time management is the key to surviving. All the more, I need to be better at it because I’m also in school.

I use a planner for work, school and sometimes blog activities and I’ve learned a thing or two about balancing all my activities.

It’s sort of become my standard procedure to look at planners that work for me at the end of the year and to scout and save up for the ones that I want to buy. It’s sort of my year-round companion so it’s worth the purchase. For this year, I went with the Best Things Are Yet To Come Mini Happy Planner. Because I also used it for brain dump and as a budget planner (occasionally a travel planner), I also write my thoughts on filler paper that I ordered online from Saffy Tenten. Because it became bulky, I also got the rose gold expander discs and that served me well throughout the year.

And as 2019 comes closer, I’m slowly going through my Mini Happy Planner and I’m also finishing its pages. Later on, it will sit on my shelf and join the other planners that have kept me company in the years prior.

It also means that I’m hunting for next year’s planner as early as now.

I’ve narrowed down the choices to two: the DYL Planner which I think will be helpful for school, and the MAMBI Classic which will be useful for work and other commitments, especially travel plans and budget. Other planners made it to the shortlist, but I’ll discuss the details later on.

Photo from Design Your Life Planner 2019

DYL Planner for School (Php 650)

I thought that I might give the DYL Planner a chance for next year. I was drawn into it because of the fun design, and because it has travel planner pages. Not only that, there are a bunch of helpful sections there as well, like finances and goals. As an added bonus, there’s a bunch of new accessories to match it with too. 

Accessories to match it with:

sticker book (Php 450)

coffee dessert clear stamps (Php 725)

gold foil leaves wide washi (Php 190)

vaporwave sticker flakes (Php 120) 

Classic MAMBI Planner for Work

I’ve used the Mini Happy Planner and I thought of giving the Classic size a try because of the bigger writing spaces and because I write a lot. I have this habit of dumping all my thoughts all at once in a given day, and because with what I do, details matter all the time.

I’m torn between the Mermaidesque and New Adventure in Classic size because I tend to gravitate towards mermaid designs and of course, anything that is travel inspired will definitely get my attention and keep me fantasizing for the next destination to visit.

Photo from Michaels Stores 

Mermaidesque

The Mermaidesque design is all about foiled details on a lovely color scheme of blue, purple and pink. I’m not sure though it the vertical layout will work for me as I’m used to the horizontal layout. So I went and searched some more in Michaels and found the pretty design in blues and violets. 

Photo from Michaels Stores

New Adventure

This design is for those bitten by the travel bug and I’ve thought of settling on this design to make use of all the travel-inspired stickers that I’ve received this year, while planning for the next escape. I thought of filling it up with filler paper for all those diary entries and then some project pages as well. The tricky part is checking and comparing rates and how to get the best deals from sellers here. 

Accessories to match it with:

Puncher (Php 920)

Sticker books (Php 850)

Happy Notes Fill Paper (Php 320)

Dot Grid Fill Paper (Php 320) 

Photo from Sheila Mae Ruiz on Facebook 

Starbucks 2019 Japan Planner

The 2019 Starbucks Japan version also caught my eye, because you know me, if anything has anything to do with mermaid, I’m down. I see that it can be a good school planner, besides school for me is all about preparing outputs and reports for class discussions and complying with requirements, so I don’t need that much extra pages for a school planner. However, I wouldn’t want to spend for drinks and collect stickers just to claim a planner because there’s no Starbucks branch in Zamboanga City and I’m lactose intolerant (LOL #sorrynotsorry) hahaha. Also, I know that there are people who hoard planners and price them insanely high as New Year comes closer. So I won’t be caught in the rush though.

So there, yeah. I’m going to save for my choice planners and then make the plunge before the year ends and so that I can set it up before officially welcoming 2019.

How about you? What are your planner picks for 2019? 

Review: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner 10’s

Who would have thought that I’d be writing about these babies years after I’ve had them?

To be honest, I reserved this set only for the special art projects. I knew that these were kind of hard to replace because I got them through special order only, I think back in 2012-13 (?).

With enough use, I can share my thoughts about them with you:

Pros

• Fine tips for small writing spaces
• Triangular body shape makes control easy
• Ink flows continuously!
• That being said, colors are pigmented and this is quite impressive too
• Case is multi-functional, it can stand on its own and give easy access to the pen colors you wish to use
• Dry Safe feature means the pens can be left uncapped for a number of days without drying up (but I haven’t done so yet)
• Slim and convenient, can be brought anywhere for those doodling activities

Cons 

• 10 colors only, can be limiting
• Not readily available here
• A bit pricey for me ($12.75)

I like that they can be packed in travel with no sweat, plus ten slim colors for writing on traveler’s notebooks can do wonders. Even if I’ve had this set for years, I can still use them up to many more because of their long-lasting ink and usability. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of these.

What are your favorite pen liners? Do you own a similar set? Share your thoughts in the comment box so that we can start a discussion, and I’ll post a series about my traveler’s notebooks soon.

Postcards From Pamucutan: Raisie’s Tips For Writing Postcards (The Virtual Ones At Least)

Before I share with you how I write my postcards, let me first explain to you how I send them.

It started with my friend A who proposed that we keep in touch through old-fashioned pen and paper. I willingly agreed being the pen and paper junkie that I am. But we feared that our letters would take weeks to arrive through the Post Office and utilizing other express couriers would hurt the budget. And so we maintained writing letters mostly about catching up and sent them through scanning the letters and uploading them through FB messenger.

For the first couple of letters, I wrote on good, old-fashioned stationery and envelope. I also used Project Life cards once. But I thought of designing my own postcards and printing them out and have used them ever since- at least for A because I still write J the usual letters. These postcards I’ve sent over I collectively called Postcards From Pamucutan. I’m compiling them for when until A pays a visit back home.

I was doing a bit of research before writing this post and I found Charles Simic’s post on The Lost Art of Postcard Writing. I’d really like for you to read it and I promise there’s an interesting sample there.

So now that’s out of the way, I have a few tips to share with you.

1. Choose a postcard with a design full of character 

We all know the regular touristy-postcards which is common here in the Philippines but believe me, the unique designs are the ones that can make your recipient react unexpectedly. These are the more memorable ones too. 

2. Write on scratch paper/ start a draft

Begin a draft on scratch paper. If your penmanship is small or if you are comfortable with a .3mm pen, you can write long sentences or until three paragraphs of two sentences each. If you have big-spaced penmanship, you can adjust your message when you transfer it on your postcard. Also keep it neat and clean! 

3. On the writing style 

This is what makes your postcard quite unique, and it’s your personal message to the recipient. The most basic ones are of course, the weather, what you did, etc. But if there’s one piece of advice I can share with you, it’s going to be write the way you speak. There are times when I can hear my friends from their letters and it makes me miss them so much more. So this is your chance to pop, let your writing style speak! 

4. Don't forget the address 

Even if I’m sending my postcard virtually, I still like to see my postcard filled up and complete (even if it means I made the address up LOL) such as calling A’s apartment Hitler’s Tower. But if you’re sending them by post, make sure the address is complete.

 5. As for stamps

I have to admit that I’ve eliminated this portion because I send my postcards to A virtually. But I still like to try to send him a postcard just to see how long it will take, and for him to keep the postcard and the stamp. But because I am a person obsessed with all the writing accessories and stationery, I am now looking for washi and sticker flakes with stamps especially the vintage designs. 

Here’s a hint, if you can’t find whimsical and quirky postcards, you can design your own and print them out yourself. I might introduce the tools I have to you if you’re interested. 

My friends and I have started combining the analogue method of writing to each other in lieu of the instant-messenger chats and this is how we make the old-school and the modern meet.

Do you have any tips on writing postcards you’d like to share? Don’t be shy and leave me a comment! 

Unboxing Deco Art X Crafts Delight Beach Please Kit

Because of a weekend trip to the Eleven Islands here in Panubigan, Zamboanga City, I suddenly remembered that I have the perfect crafts kit to complement my experience and to journal with. Deco Arts and Crafts Delight launched a crafts kit in a box May of this year that’s just perfect for any beach theme. After all, BEACH stands for Best Escape Anyone Could Have, clever huh?

Best Escape Anyone Could Have (BEACH)

The kit came in a flat white box. I’m keeping the thank you card and using it in my notebook, nice prompt for gratitude if you ask me.

I begin all interest with washi, and for this kit there’s two, the umbrella and printed starry washi. And there’s my shell prop which I brought home some time ago, years ago maybe.

Washi from the kit

Here’s the collection of journal cards from the kit. The more colorful top ones are freebies from any purchases from the shop, (this isn’t my only purchase) the set doubles as a travel journal cards on the side. The bottom journal cards are the ones that are included in the kit and the cutest ones I like are the Waves, Lemonade and Bikini journal cards.

Summer and beach journal cards

The dividers are cute, and my favorite is the seashell, though the bikini one is also cute.

Dividers

 There are ten ephemera stickers and I really like the fishies, the seashell and pink lemonade.

Sticker ephemera

Lastly, the stickers feature functional, matte sheets that can be written on. I like the boxed quotes, they really relate to what summer and beach days are all about. I like the Weekend banner on the third sticker sheet and the cute beach accessories.

The sunscreen bottle can be a good reminder for me to always be equipped with sunblock and to remind myself that prevention of sunburn is always important.

Functional stickers

What do I think of it overall? The kit could have used some more beach or ocean themed washi for this kit. But I have some seahorse and seashell washi already. But the stickers and journal cards are something that I can definitely use.

The Beach Please kit is no longer available, but there are other kits to be launched from Deco Art and Crafts Delight. Be sure to watch out for announcements on Instagram, that’s where I place my orders.

Deco Art Instagram

Crafts Delight Instagram

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. All opinion are the blogger’s own.

Unboxing Déco Art X Crafts Delight Tara Viaje Kit

It’s been a while since I’ve done an unboxing of a stationery kit, but this is sure one way to break the monotony of my blog and you know me, anything travel is always worth turning a head to.

For this month, Deco Art and Crafts Delight decided to launch a vintage travel themed stationery and crafts kit and boy oh boy, did it arouse my curiosity. Another reason why I raised my hand to this edition is because I have another leisurely travel scheduled next month (hello, long weekend) and it’s definitely going to be very useful for me.

I always prep a traveler’s notebook every time I leave, whether it’s standard or pocket sized, what’s important to me is preserving the memories, writing down thoughts and experiences while in transit especially if they involve the significant people I’m traveling with.

So…. On to the unboxing….

Burnt edges of Chinese Newspaper add a nice touch to the package

The packaging alone is a nice surprise, the twine and burnt edges of the Chinese newspaper ties up  with the vintage travel theme nicely. 

What's inside the wrapped package

Onto the other additions in the kit are two washi tapes, a wooden stamp and a crystal pen in a beautiful copper-ish color. Mental note: test it out later. The washis are a constant in any Deco Art and Crafts Delight subscription kit but the pen and stamp are a new addition to this set. Still a welcome touch. 

Vintage travel themed washi

Here’s a close up look of the washis.

More paper goods

A peak into some more of the goodies in the kit, there are doilies, ephemera, stickers and journal cards.

Journal cards 

Looking at the journal cards, my favorites are the vintage map, Say Yes to New Adventures, and My Goal Is To Run Out Of Pages In My Passport. That’s not far from the truth, sista!

Sticker ephemera 

Now the ephemera stickers are small, so I didn’t take them out of their little plastic pouch because I’m afraid to lose some in case. This reduces the need to bring a good glue during travel next month so it’s easy to just write away all the thoughts and experiences. 

Loads of vintage travel stickers

Lastly, there are the functional stickers that come with almost every monthly kit. But I think the newer additions are the washi strips and larger boxes. I'm not really a fond of the icon stickers but I guess I can find some use for my daily planner at work. 

It’s the first time that Deco Art and Crafts Delight launched a full kit and with the unboxing of this one, I can say that so far, so good. I hope that they can continue the vintage theme, like café, or fashion. But in case a mermaid kit comes up, you can expect that I’ll be one of the first to also sign up for it.

Would you care to get a box of this kit too? Simply reach out through Insta! As of this publication, there are only 2 kits left so you better hurry!

Deco Art Instagram

Crafts Delight Instagram

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. All opinion are the blogger’s own. 

February’s Happy Mail: Vintage Washi and Glitter Pens

I couldn’t help myself and went on a splurge last week. Disappointing, I know but arts is life. So now I have to contain myself and also remind myself that March is for our Holy Week escape so there will be no more extra expenses.

Tim Holtz Cling Stamps

And I gave in.

I long wanted to add my Tim Holtz stamps, I currently have two: Freshly Brewed and Treats (see how I’m fond of good food…) and since I started school, I’ve long wanted Schoolhouse. Now I have it thanks to Berry’s Treats.

But with the arrival of my nephew, I’m tempted once more with Baby and Childhood. Of course, I can still aim for Travel and Vintage Things by the time my birthday rolls in.

Tim Holtz Washi

And there’s an addition to my Tim Holtz washi.

I did tell myself that I’ll only get the designs that are relevant to me. And I did. So that’s that for my Tim Holtz washi in the meantime…. 

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens

I love the colors in the Sakura Gelly Roll Galaxy set. There’s five: pink, lavender, green, blue and black. The ink gives off a gold shadow and it’s great for different paper varieties. It’s a perfect match for glitter washi and even galaxy washi. I like that it’s affordable at Php 250 per set. I’m now seriously thinking of getting the metallic set. No seriously, I am.

Deco Art Washi

I received my package with freebie stickers, (I love panda bears because I call C panda lol). But of course, I went ahead and got myself travel-inspired and vintage washis that I’ve been stalking for quite some time. So this is all going in my traveler's notebook and what's good about traveling by land is that I don't have to get in trouble with airport security confiscating a pair of tiny scissors for my crafts. 

All these new craft goodies make me want to look forward to some quiet time to write quietly in my corner and process my thoughts. It’s also my way of coping, unwinding and playing with colors for my art therapy.


Do you see something you like? You can get them at Berry's Treats and Deco Art respectively, drop them a message in Insta and they're going to definitely reply. =) 

Currently 02.11.18

School

I think school affairs have every reason to cause me my acne lol. They do appear when I’m stressed. 12 units is no joke, as I’m meeting the minimum for my school load.

I’ve finished my report in Urban Planning class yesterday. That leaves my report for Fiscal Policy and then the exam for Friday class which means I have to read everyone else’s input on the subject. So, add to that, here we go second quarter of the semester whoohooo! 

Writing

Well I managed to score a few online finds, in the like of new Tim Holtz washi and also Michaels stamp washi. I’m in love with the pink Gelly Roll pen, it’s Php 56 each and I can’t stop thinking about trying out a new set. I’m just really just fond of it.

I’ve thought of indulging in Bible journaling, maybe that can help me out?

My laptop needs a sleeve and I thought I should give Lazada one more try before I give it up. I’m still eyeing that Sakura Gelly Roll set…. I still can’t get over it lol. 

Trudy Lauren Diamond Pen in Rose Gold and Planner Charm Review

Because rose gold is the craze for planner girls this season, who can resist a rose gold Trudy Lauren Diamond pen and planner charm for a quick pick me up? Here’s my two cents on the diamond pen and charm that I got from Excelite Liwag.

The color is gorgeous! And yes, because it’s rose gold. The diamond detail is a bit flashy but isn’t that what lady bosses are after? LOL not that I am one, but it’s good for those insta-snapshots. The ink is on and off and made of the regular ballpoint pen and not gel ink pen. It’s a regular twist barrel with no clip holder on the side whatsoever. I thought that it will suit my Forever New Pearlised Blush Planner in A5 but I have to be careful that it does not slip off the pen holder. It does feel a little heavy to write with so it’s really more of a decorative pen rather than a functional one. 

The planner charm is another story. The charms included in this gold (yep, not rose gold chain) are an acrylic high heel shoe, (the other pair must be with Cinderella right now), a transparent heart gem and tiny gold coin with a stamped message that says live, laugh, love. The combination suits my planner because these charms are uber girly. But again, I thought that the chain would at least be rose gold to match the diamond pen.

And then there’s its durability. It’s gotten detached from the clasp midway in my bag twice. I just had to stop re-linking them together and something tells me that it should just stay at home on my desk. But it’s a planner charm and has to hold together!

Have you tried any of the Trudy Lauren stationery? They’re cute I must say, but you have to personally evaluate which ones are truly functional for your planning and desk activities. Don’t be shy to leave me a comment! 

A Writing Icon: The Fountain Pen

“I was thinking of getting you a fountain pen for a wedding present, but then I realized you already had one.”

That’s the scene in The Sound of Music with the very regal and fabulous Baroness Schraeder played by Eleanor Parker that reminds me of why the fountain pen is an icon.

It’s rare to spot a fountain pen in one’s desks these modern days, but it continues to be an icon of a writing instrument among those old-school pen and paper writers.

A close friend of mine still writes handwritten letters with a fountain pen on parchment paper in the age of computers and Facebook messenger.

A fountain pen comes in many different varieties such as capped or retractrable, fine or thick nibs, pocket-sized or the regular length. Basically and by definition, a fountain pen is a writing instrument with a reservoir or cartridge from which the ink flows continuously to the nib.

The list of masters who use the fountain pen in writing their works are Neil Gaiman, Simone de Beavoir, Stephen King, Dylan Thomas and Claire Messud.

Never have I expected to actually own a fountain pen because the ones I usually see are the posh ones which must cost a small fortune already. But thanks to my crazy friends A and M, I have a simple but meaningful fountain pen with my name engraved on it. It came as a surprise and these are the times when I feel so grateful to have thoughtful friends who know me so well.

I’ve used the pen mostly for signing cheques and policies as well as bank transactions. I received a box of refill cartridges with it and I’ve already consumed half of the cartridges. I like the cartridge system to minimize having to frequently dip into ink and also avoid any mess I might cause because honestly, my desk is far from very neat. Though I’m anticipating that I have to look for replacements pretty soon because I live and work far from town and the local and only bookstore might not carry it here LOL. Let’s just say fountain pens are not very popular in this city and only a handful of people actually use it.

But they do make very beautiful and thoughtful Christmas (or even wedding) gifts. 

So what do you think of the fountain pen? Would you consider acquiring one or are you going to stick to a good sign pen for your signature? Share your thoughts with me by leaving me a comment. Cheers!

Shop Feature: Washi and Stamps Haul From Cathy’s Craft Buffet

This is where browsing Facebook arts groups can lead me to. 

The special feature about Cathy’sCraft Buffet is the 3 for Php 100 deal and believe me when I say that the washi rolls are the premium ones. I’ve seen the same washi on sale in other shops for more bucks, and since the ones I spotted in her offerings are patterns, seaside, galaxy and brown vintage ones, I dove in and helped myself, so to speak.

The choices from my buffet came with a freebie consisting of hot air balloon clear stickers. This is quite significant for me because I always have special memories associated with hot air balloons. They always bring back beautiful memories of a weekend where everything flies.

Not only that. Since I have a total of 16 rolls from this haul alone, I also received a reusable, compartmentalized box that’s just the right size for all my orders. I’m not sure how many clients Miss Cathy has who have received this, but this has got to be a thoughtful gesture.

Taking a look at my haul one by one, I have wooden number stamps that also come with fun icons such as camera, phone, mustache and others. I thought it would be good for stamp layering and dates. I’ve already tried them out on my Limelight Journal and they’re great with my Tsukineko ink pads in Coffee Bean and Pearlescent Olive. It seems like my favorite color palette anyway; what else is new?

As for the washi, I consider myself lucky to have scored these brown vintage ones. One is postale themed, the other one has typo textured script. I like it together with my vintage spreads on my journal and they look great with my postale wooden stamps from Deco Art Ph.

Onto the patterned washi, I have dusty blue ones that are a mixed pattern. There are florals and polkas, and also vivid, Morrocan washi in bright pinks, purples and red. I also adore the muted browns, blues and grays, also in patterns.

Now the convincing factor for me is the galaxy washi. Okay, I got a little carried away and got four. But looking at the swatches takes me away to a dark, starry sky and you know that I’m hooked. That and I did a post last time about galaxy washi.

And finally, there’s the seaside washi that I got two of. I love them both. I get to go all out with purples and oranges because of these two.

So that sums up my haul. I like that everything is super affordable and kind of haul-inducive if you’re like me with poor self-control when it comes to washis, stamps, stickers and writing instruments.

I know, I know. I need more discipline. But with deals so good such as this, who’s ready to pass up?

For premium washi tapes at 3 rolls for only Php 100, visit Cathy's Craft Buffet on Facebook. It's worth your while, I bet ya!