Activities for our house move are picking up so I am getting excited by the day.
Our contractor will start with the renovations next week (I hope!). Deliveries and installations then need to be coordinated.
But since we are working on a VERY limited budget, the house can still be considered bare even with the renovations. Design of the interiors and how it will feel homey must be figured out by moi.
I do have an artistic side but have only used it on cheap stuff. I need to be careful about this. I cannot, for the love of my husband, purchase a furniture and set it aside if it does not fit the intended concept.
The internet, indeed, is a wonderful invention. I have found good websites that I super recommend for amateurs like me.
Design Sponge Online. It features sneek peeks to houses of real people, not celebrities or royalties. They have a good mixture of lifestyle write-ups from gardening, parties, cooking and some do-it-yourself stuff.
Desire to Inspire. It focuses more on houses, both interior and exteriors (including the garden).
Martha Stewart Online. I go directly to the home decorating portion of the website. This has a more organized presentation so you get to your topic in mind the fastest. They have a link for decorating, gardening, home improvement, painting ideas, organizing, etc.
And, of course, we have the Urban Zone on TV... now aired on Fridays. It starts very late at night but I make it a point to watch.
I've grabbed some ideas already. I hope it turns out well and not too expensive. Update you soon.
I grew up with soap operas as a staple so I am well aware of the evolution of these drama shows, at least in the Philippines. The formula is so easy to follow so what I do is just watch the first few episodes, get snippets in the middle and I do not miss the last part... that is if I like whoever is in the series.
Here is a list of soap operas that I followed -- not watched -- religiously (order is based on like):
1) Pangako Sa 'Yo which was an epic.
2) Marimar, the Thalia (read: original) version
3) Maria La Del Barrio, Thalia starrer again
4) Rosalinda, Thalia starrer still
5) Metor Garden (Series 1), which I so love
6) Pangarap na Bituin because of Sarah G.
7) Mula sa Puso. Thanks to the late Rico Yan.
And now, may I add Magkaribal to the list?
It is, for me, what a soap opera of the modern times should be all about. Put it on the top of my list, please.
Honestly, I do not like Bea. I think she is an actress so unnatural that during crying scenes, she seems to be trying her best not to yawn (yawning is actually the best way to make yourself shed those artista tears, try it). I do not like Gretchen and her persona but yes, she still has it (acting). I do not like Erich and her supposedly conyo accent nor I get kilig in the Erich-Enchong tandem.
BUT the story is so wonderfully written that I was able to go past my dislikes and concentrate on the story and how it was presented.
I shed a tear when Victoria lost her baby, shed a tear again when Victoria found out that Gelai was her sister, and shed a tear again when the sisters saw each other. Gretchen was very good in her crying scenes and was superb in her confrontational scenes especially the last row about the finale dress.
I love Vera's character. She is so mean but she is so in love with her husband. Other famous soap villains were merely evil and whatever hurt that caused their vengeful acts got lost in the story because they were portrayed as just evil. Vera was different because one can clearly see how she was heartbroken by the demise of Manuel.
Manuel was a class act while Papa Ronaldo Valera was the best portrayed old rich fag in town. Love, love, love to pieces!
I do hope that they would not come up with a series 2 for Magkaribal because they have to leave this epic at that... great and unforgettable.
I am so excited.
I will be watching Wowowee tomorrow. Not that I am a super fan of the show but this gives me the opportunity to go inside ABS-CBN.
Reminders for oneself:
1) Don't forget to charge and bring your camera.
2) Don't forget to charge and bring your iPhone.
3) Don't forget to wake up on time.
