Plant update #1

HeyLadySpring Garden Journal Photography

Two new babies; Bromeliad and Nerve plant.

HeyLadySpring Garden Journal Photography

HeyLadySpring Garden Journal Photography

A week before Christmas I went back to Manila Seedling bank to find new plants for my house. It was gloomy that day but I didn't think it would rain. I was already there so I just did my touristy things in a hurry. I only got a few shots and decided to buy the plants and go home.

Pretty things: Washi tapes

Remember this MT expo I shared a while back?! Well its now available locally via Heima store. I was supposed to go to their launch party but we were working on putting my curtains up. My privacy had to come first ( >.<)~ (I still wonder if my room can really be seen all the way up to the 39th floor?) Anyway, from the photos it looked like a whole day full of crafty fun. So sad I wasn't there :(

edit: You can also buy from HeyKessy.

 

 





Photos © Heima

Wishlist: Bigbang Bigshow 2011 dvd


 Its about time for another BIGSHOW but I'm a little late in watching the 2011 one. I found these dvd rips on youtube. *yey for generous VIP's* Ah but definitely I should be getting my own dvd. Especially..since I'd be getting a new tv next month. bwahaha I shall annoy my neighbors ( ^=^)v

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec

Originally a fantasy comic book, the story revolves around a cynical heroine and her extraordinary adventures involving tombs, pterodactyls, para-psychology and sheep men. Set in the beautiful era of 1970's Paris.
 

BC Bloggers

This is probably one of the few times I'll be writing about blogging and all that serious stuff. I created this site mainly to document what I do and what I like. I've been blogging since 2004 and my style has always been very personal. That's why I find it hard to talk about pro blogging things (and the like...) and although I blog for fun, I have to admit I also like receiving visitors and comments. I like meeting new people and sharing stories with them.

This year I decided to try a few things;

I joined blogger networks like nuffnang, bloglovin and bloggers. They're quite effective in bringing additional traffic to this site. My only problem with it is that most bloggers that join those sites are mostly blogging about topics I don't like or care about. And like me they only want to get more visitors to their sites and have no intention on commenting or going back.

What I found to be an effective method is to just look for blogs I like by bloghopping from site to site. I gained a few blog buddies and worthwhile blogs to visit. (shoutout to my blogger friends -- links on my sidebar under "Friends" label! ^=^v) There is a flaw in this method though, the time and effort you need to look for blogs is no joke. Often you'll also meet dead ends (most blogs have the same blogroll).

On one of my bloghopping sessions (〃^-^) I came across Paula's blog but its not until I received a direct link did I find out about her affiliate network. Her idea had hit home to me. (being very frustrated with my bloghopping skills ٩(×̯×)۶)

Here at BC Bloggers you will find other bloggers that have the same passion for blogging as you and would also be happy to connect and link with your blog. With BC Bloggers, “We don’t have to beg for links.”

I'm trying it out. I'm not hoping for instant success but I have a feeling this is going to be fun!~ (*^-゚)

Rurouni Kenshin 2012

updated with new videos and photos 2012.08.26



This is gonna be epic~ Japanese works just has to be done by Japanese film makers and actors. Its more legit that way. I'm spying some awesome moves. gah *flails* (。 `∆´。)ノシ

OMG!! Kenshin is being played by Sato Takeru!!! Yuu Aoi is also in the cast. CANNOT WAIT for August 25!!







© websitealafista

Plant Profile: Winter Bulbs

I'm going on another trip to Manila Seedling Bank this weekend, this time with my friend S. Hopefully we'll be able to visit all the tents and still find time to go to Dapitan Arcade (for ceramic hunting).

My stargazer lily is already undergoing hibernation. After the flowers bloomed, the leaves started falling off. *sigh (¬_¬)* Its really sad seeing your plants wilt away like that. (-’_’-) (╥_╥) I don't know how long till it sprouts a new body so I'm hunting for another ornamental plant. Stargazer being a lily bulb, I have hope that MSB will also have these so-called winter bulbs I keep seeing on international blogs.

Winter bulbs are these onion looking ones. Examples are Amaryllis, Hyacinths, Tullips, and Daffodils.

New plants!

The only one left of my Miura plants is Rikka. Photobucket
But he won't be lonely anymore. He's got new brothers and sisters. (^=^)v

Introducing my new houseplants! Jade plant, Echeveria & Star gazer lily. The former two are succulents and the latter a bulb lily. All perfect for indoors with bright light of course (by the window or a bright lamp light)! These are the ones I bought in Manila Seedling Bank.

plants

Tips when buying plants:

1. Pick healthy plants! Don't be tempted to buy whatever is there just cause they all look the same.

I should have chosen my Echeveria & Jade plants carefully these look unhealthy :3 Try to look for plants without those brown things.  (^-^)v

plants
Rikka & rosettes from the main Echeveria plant.

2. If you plan to re-pot them in pretty vases, don't forget to buy:
  • soil suited for your plant (I got this Plantastic Soil-less mix for 50php; good for any type of houseplant)
To give your cacti and succulents the adequate drainage it needs, go to a rock supply store and get yourself some black pebbles # 5 (that's the size of the pebbles). If you could also go to a gardening store and find yourself some coarse perlite, that would also be great. Mix these three (Plantastic, black pebbles and coarse perlite) in equal parts and you've got yourself an excellent cactus mix. If all you can get is one or the other, that would be fine, too. What's important is that the drainage property of the potting mix be enhanced. -- email reply by Gardenhearts staff. (yes I emailed them   )
  • mini shovel
  • and gloves
plants


plants

This is where they are temporarily, until I figure out what kind of plant stand I want. I'm gearing towards a mini ladder or just go all out and buy a table. Besides I'm planning to have my craft area near the window anyway.

I'm definitely going ceramic hunting soon, I want a vintage looking vase for my Jade plant. (^=^)v
I'll post some other houseplants you can buy besides these three.

Kdrama: Sungkyunkwan Scandal

I don't usually watch Korean dramas cause they tend to be long thus making it hard to download all the episodes. I'd run out of space! ( >.<)~ though sometimes one drama will stick out from the bunch and I'd get totally obsessed with it. Such is what happened to me with Sungkyunkwan Scandal. This was a 2010 drama but till now I still fall head over heels with it.


Sungkyunkwan Scandal is set in Sungkyunkwan University in the late Joseon era during the reign of King Jeongjo (Yi San), revolving around the exploits and love stories of four youths. When her younger brother's illness worsens and their family is in danger of being evicted from their house for lack of money, Kim Yoon Hee enters the school under his name, disguised as a boy in her desperation to support him. There, she becomes friends with the intelligent and upright Lee Sun Joon, the playboy Goo Yong Ha and rebellious Moon Jae Shin.

I miss my Mom!

I saw this video shared by Ms. Daphne. It made me think of my Mom. She went to NY when I was in high school. Since then we have not spent Christmas together - 10 years! That's why although I like the Christmas season, I don't like the actual Christmas day itself. After attending a number of pre-Christmas parties, going home to an empty house is painful. I used get invited at a friend's house or my relatives but after a while it became too troublesome so I just spent it alone.

These are things I can't change so I have learned to just accept things as they are. Still I wish all our worries will go away so my Mom can finally come home for good.

Love you & Merry Christmas Mom! *sniff*


note: YES its a viral campaign. My take on this is, the company could have done the usual giveaway, raffle, promo etc., but they chose this kind of campaign. Result is it brought 3 families together this Christmas. For some it may not be much, for others it means the whole world.

This post is part of the Musings series where I share stories of inspiring people, culture, concepts and beliefs.

Feel free to browse my other posts and leave your comments. See you! ( ^-^)/★*☆

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Secret garden in QC

Well its not so secret to plant lovers and to anyone passing through EDSA. Manila Seedling Bank is obscured by plants and trees but inside it's quite spacious. There are huge tents with numerous stalls within. I only explored one side actually, I went with BF and he's not the person you would want to go exploring with. Anyway, I'll come back next month! I'm eye-ing a super cute bonsai for Christmas (see photo at the bottom!).

plants

plants

Pretty things: Ann Wood



These are works by Ann Wood. Aren't they absolutely magical?! Gah I want those owls and that ship!!! (I'm imagining owl-hobbits & Peter Pan) (。◕‿‿◕。)ノシ

I've been following her blog for a while now. I love seeing her work, its amazing what she can do with vintage fabric. Follow her blog too and be inspired~Photobucket

Solenn Heussaff: The Painter

Solenn Heusaff is a French-Filipina model, actress, make-up artist and apparently a painter! I came across this Rogue video feature while on my usual blunder around the internet. Now why don't we have more of this kind of shows? *sigh* Instead of being pelted with news of celebrity love lives and whatever gossip is on TV these days we should focus on inspiring stories about people and what they really do with their lives.

Well we are to blame too because we enable them by watching gossip shows. :/



Wishlist: Tolkien and other fantasy books

Hurray for stable internet ( ̄ω ̄)ノ~♪
I'm about to face 1000+ google reader updates Σ(゚Д゚ )..so for now I'm sharing a list of books added to my book wishlist. I already have the first 2 books but I want to try and find these specific versions in hardbound


1. The Hobbit, 70th anniversary ed.
2. Lord of the Rings, 50th anniversary ed.
3. The Silmarillion


1. Faeries by Brian Froud, Alan Lee (thanks to Hannah for recommending this book! ( ^-^)ノ)
2. Eon: Dragon-eye Reborn and
3. Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman

Life recently... #8

 - HeyLadySpring

 - HeyLadySpring

1. passed out in the lobby
2. hello Mr. Akuma!

Congratulations BIGBANG!

You guys!!! BIGBANG frakkin WON!! MTV EMA Worldwide Act y'all!!! (=^ー^)ノ彡☆゜・。・゜★
I'm so happy VIP's & BIGBANG forever!! Photobucket Photobucket   Photobucket










© ygfamilyy

1Q84 teasers

I'm a huge Murakami fan (I say that though I haven't read all his books ha!) -- and today is the US release of his new book 1Q84! Which looks amazzzzzzing!! (。◕‿‿◕。)ノシ

I can't wait to get my copy :)


Back to basics: Memorizing Japanese syllabary



Found these in an old box yesterday. Figured I should start with my Nihongo lessons again before I get too excited with other things. Back to basics (cause I forgot everything I learned from Elem 1)....

If you guys (you know all 3 of you~ (^ー^) ha!) want to study with me...I can try and guide you. :)

Memorizing of Kana (Hiragana and Katakana) characters


I found these in an old site but its gone now so I thought I'd upload here instead. I learned Hiragana & Katakana this way by memorizing the pictures. I can't find my Katakana picture sheet (sorry!) so we both would have to learn it the hard way.

To listen to how the characters are pronounced check this site: genkienglish.

To test yourself use these flash kana cards: realkana (has an iphone app!) / kanacards / search itunes store, there are tons of apps for Kana practice.

Next lesson!~ Reading & Writing practice