Relief Operations ☮

Everyone in the country knows what's happening; it's hard to be ignorant. The least we can do is help, and here's how:

(Santuario de San Antonio is located in Makati City)

#RescuePH - From Globe Telecom:

For those who want to extend their help for the flood victims, the Philippine Red Cross are now accepting donations.

To donate via your Globe phone, text RED<space>AMOUNT to 2899. To donate via GCASH, text DONATE <space> AMOUNT <space> 4-digit M-PIN <space> REDCROSS to 2882.

(Credits to everyone who made the posters)

FEATURED: Jennifer Young ☮

This is the lovely Jennifer Young, lifestyle photographer and owner of the whimsical I Art U blog. Taken from her about me page, she started IAU at around August of 2009. She obssessed over "...natural light, authentic moments, understanding and appreciating the process of creating, travel, cafe hopping, dinner with friends, creative details, and finding beauty in simplicity." With this description, there's no doubt that this woman is artistically brilliant, which is why we wanted to feature her.

 Her photographs are aesthetically thought of. They reflect a sense of contentment, and the subject is highlighted in such a way that the audience admires the beauty of the art. It celebrates life, love, and all the feelings you could think of. For me, that is a mark of a truly gifted photographer.

We were ecstatic to have her write back to our email (Thank you, Jennifer!), so here are some of the questions she answered!

1. Tell us about yourself and your blog. How long have you been blogging?
I'm Jennifer Young, lifestyle photographer and blogger over at I ART U. I started IAU as an inspiration blog but it has become a place where I share my personal photography work or collaborations I host with other artists. I've been blogging for almost three years coming up in September!

2. Where do you get inspiration for the things you post?
My posts are inspired by a lot of my travels. I'm on the road frequently and I love documenting my steps along the way.

3. Which post of yours is your favorite so far? Tell us more about it!
Favorite? I don't know if I have one! Here are a few of my favorites: 1, 2, & 3.

4. Tell us something quirky about you that your readers probably don't know.

I like the smell of chlorine...weird, right?

5. How were you able to get your blog's name out there?

I'm don't know if my blog name is "out there", but I enjoy connecting with others by reading their blogs and commenting...comments are always a good way of reaching out. 

6. What are, in your opinion, the pros and cons of blogging?

The pros? Meeting a bunch of creatives that I wouldn't have met otherwise. Cons? It's super time consuming and keeps me in front of the computer for too many hours of the day. 

7. If you could have a playlist that defines your blog/photographs, what songs would be in it?
Lately, I've been so outside of the music scene...I don't think I can answer this!

8. What are your favorite things to photograph? Point out a constant/similarity in your photos.
I think my favorite thing to photograph is everyday life. I love capturing uncontrived moments or things of everyday living.

9. What made you get into photography?
It's been a passion of mine since I was young. Not sure what made me get into photography but I find capturing moments and light fascinating and beautiful. 

10. Do you have any tips for aspiring bloggers that have the same theme as your blog or bloggers in general?

I say connect with those who inspire you and post consistently (i'm the worst at this)! 

Please check out Jennifer's blog and support her here and here!

Follow her on Pinterest as well!

FEATURED: Malia Carter ♡

Meet Malia Carter, owner of the quirkily named Deep Fried Freckles blog and an artist extraordinaire. An advertisement and graphic design student at the Columbus College of Art and Design , Malia was previously a fashion major before switching. Being a lover of watercolors and intentionally messy sketches, I was hooked into Malia's works the moment I laid my eyes on them. It was only right for us to feature her here, and Bea and I were more than happy when she responded to our e-mail.
Her illustrations are all brilliantly drawn, down to the very last detail. Whatever or whoever the subject is, Malia finds a way to still give off happy vibes through the bright colors. I could only dream of painting and drawing as well as she does. Her style in painting is very unique (much like the person she is) and full of texture. If you guys need any art-spiration (a ridiculous term I coined), I suggest you drop by her blog (click here).
Before I leave you guys with the interview, I'd like to point out that Malia does take requests for illustration, for a sum of $60.00 (approx. php2,513). Send her an e-mail if you're interested! She also has a society6 shop where she sells her prints that could either be framed, written on, put on an iPhone/iPad/laptop case among other things. Check it out here! Oh, and if you're feeling artsy/want to practice your painting, you can print some of her works here!
1. Tell us about yourself and what it is that you do.
I am a 22 year old artist exploring the world around me and inside of my head. I spend most of my time painting, searching for inspiration and daydreaming about snacks.

2. Who/what is/are your inspiration/s?
I love anything quirky that sticks out.

3. How did you come up with your blog name?
I came up with Deep Fried Freckles a year ago when I was combining words that described myself. The first thing I thought of was freckles, and while doing so I was eating french fries. I have a 12 year old palette.

4. When did you realize you had passion for art and wanted to pursue it?
I have been creating art since I was a toddler. I always knew I would choose a career involving art and I am lucky enough to have supportive people in my life that believe in me and helped me be where I am today.
5. Do you prefer digital or traditional art?
I really can't choose. I am still learning so much about both and each day I grow a stronger appreciation for different mediums.

6. What are your other hobbies aside from art?
I love spending time with animals. I'm the girl who sneaks off to play with a roommates dog at a college party. I dog walk and pet sit 3-4 times a week and also volunteer at my local animal shelter.

7. Which of your many brilliant artworks is your favorite?
Thank you for the compliment! And I would have to say my favorite so far is my mermaid mural for Illusions Salon. It was my first mural so It took me weeks of repainting, loving and loathing. I really feel like I put my whole heart into that mural.
8. Any tips/advice for young artists like you?
I would say to just find your passion and never stop creating. If you truly love something others will see that and appreciate your work.
If you like Malia and her illustrations, please do check out her links and show your support by commenting on her posts and whatnot! :)

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MOVIES: Rainy Day Movies ☮

When the rain is pouring outside, you know what to do. Grab a mug of hot tea, wear your comfiest sweater, bring out the ugliest (but admittedly, the warmest) Christmas socks you have, snuggle under the covers, and have a movie marathon. These are the classic love stories that a girl should watch at least once in her life time. My best friends recommended some of these to me, and I love how they're the tear-jerker kinds. They pierce my heart, and make me cry even harder than the rain pouring outside my window pane. Watch with your mom, your best friends, or even your dog, and you're guaranteed a productive day at home!

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Starring: Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles

Inspired by Shakespeare's "Taming Of The Shrew", this high school comedy revolves around Kat (Julia Stiles) being "tamed" by the resident "shrew" that is Patrick (Heath Ledger). Kat's younger sister, Bianca, was being courted by the new guy, Cameron. The only thing is, Kat and Bianca have a very overprotective father, thus restricting Bianca from dating unless Kat does. Kat's a spiriting feminist; she's a nonconforming idealist and a breath of fresh air. Patrick, on the other hand, is the ideal rebel. He's rugged on the outside, but is will be known to have a soft spot. What happens when Bianca concocts an idea to set-up Kat and Patrick, so that she herself would get her own happy ending? 

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Starring: Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Dermot Mulroney

The typical love-story that will make you burst into tears, just like I did when I first watched it. Julianne (Julia Roberts) and her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) made a pact in college that if neither of them were married by the time they were 28, they would marry each other. Unfortunately for Julianne, she received a phone call from Michael saying that he would marry his girlfriend Kim (Cameron Diaz) three weeks before Julianne turns 28. Realizing that she's deeply in love with him and that he's marrying the wrong woman for her, she plans to sabotage the wedding while playing the role of Kim's maid-of-honor. Will Michael and Julianne end up together, or will Julianne watch her best friend - and the only one she truly loves - walk down the aisle with another woman? (P.S. Bring tissues - lots of it!)

Serendipity (2001)

Starring: John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale

Serendipity is defined as "the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident", and this movie explains just that. Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) meets Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) in New York while Christmas shopping, as they buy the same pair of cashmere gloves at Bloomingdale's. They felt a mutual attraction, and they ended up eating ice cream at Serendipity 3. After they exchanged their bittersweet goodbyes, they both realized that they left something at the shop. They went back, only to realize that they found each other again. Fate was their explanation for all of these circumstances, and this begins a string of events that will eventually lead them to each other in the end. This is one of those movies you would watch with your mom while eating a pint of ice cream!

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Starring: Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall

Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) is an awkward high school student, and it's her birthday. Coincidentally, it's her sister's wedding after her birthday, and everyone - including her grandparents - forgets all about it. As she tries to cope with her suffering, some nerd (Anthony Michael Hall) tries to buy her attention as she craves for the popular hunk Jake (Michael Schoeffling). Watch Samantha as she tries to find the true meaning of high school. With events like the traditional school dance, cliche characters like a prom queen or a Japanese exchange student, and the all too familiar party scene that will change every teenager's life, this movie will make you want to hold on to the bittersweet age that is high school.

Snuggle up and get ready for a movie marathon you'd want to have over and over!

BOOKS: Take Me There ♡

by Carolee Dean

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him - but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her. But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He's on the run and in search of answers - answers to questions he wishes he'd never asked.

This may be one of the best books I've ever read. It's the kind of book that keeps you hanging on to every last word - a page-turner - and leaves you mesmerized and different from the person you previously were before reading this book. Quoting one of the reviews on Amazon,

Take Me There is a page-turner; there are emotionally intense scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat! It's good movie material, really. There is profanity but it's not excessive.I believe anyone who reads this book will learn some very important lessons.

I completely agree with the whole "good movie material" thing mentioned above. These are the kinds of stories people should be reading because there is so much truth hidden under the veil of fiction that it takes you by the shoulders, shakes you, and - like I said - leaves you feeling different about the world around you when you're done. It holds a simple lesson - one that I will leave you to figure out for yourself when you read it - something we've heard so many times before, but Carolee Dean took it and made sure it will forever be engraved in our brains.

Despite being a work of fiction, Take Me There is so realistic, you have to stop every now and then to wonder how many people have gone through a similar situation as our protagonist, Dylan. It kind of makes you emphathize for some of the rebellious youth. I don't want to give out too much information, so I'll stop here. I'll admit both the summary and the cover could be a bit misleading (don't bother reading if you think it's a light-hearted romance story... IT'S NOT), but it's a good book nonetheless.

Carolee Dean is a brilliant author and she did her research on this one, making sure every little detail about real things and places were spot on. She has successfully sent the message she intended to through this book, and the fact that she mixed in poetry every now and then makes it all the more a unique and fresh read. The characters are as far from Mary Sues and Gary Stus as the characters in Twilight are close to it. Each character has a believable background story, another factor that reels you into the book more. By the time I finished, I was crying like a baby.

I don't think this review would be complete if I didn't shed some light to my favorite quotes I found in the book. There were some lines that made me cry, although I doubt Carolee meant them to make me feel as such. Maybe it was just the way they were written that made things so bittersweet. Sigh... back to the point. Here are my favorite quotes from the book. I promise I won't spoil anything!

1. “How far can you go down the wrong path before you can't get back on the right one?”
2. “As long as you're breathing, there's still hope.”
3. “They say money changes you. It isn't true. It changes everybody around you.”
4. “A man's beliefs are his destiny. As soon as my father believed his life was over, it was.”
5. “Do you ever look at the people around you and wonder how you ended up with them?”
6. “I have loved and been loved, thoroughly and deeply by good and decent people who believed in me. Who let me dare to believe in myself.”

Besides those, I also liked some of the poems found within the pages. I don't want to spoil them for you so that you can experience reading them and being in awe firsthand, but I'll leave you with a photo of the very first one you will see (I took the photo for instagram). If you've read the book, comment below with regards what you thought about the book but don't spoil it! If you have to, be sure to add "SPOILERS!" before doing so, just so other people who haven't read it can get a warning. :) It's raining hard in the Philippines, so stay safe wherever you are!

Pray for The Philippines ☮

Living in this country, I have been used to the harsh conditions. But seeing people on the streets with no homes, with nowhere to go, devastated by the recent typhoon, it truly breaks my heart. We're all fortunate to have a roof over our heads, a blanket to cover our shivering bodies at night, and a family to take care of us. In reality, most of the Filipinos aren't as fortunate as us. Let us all offer our prayers to those in need, and to those who need refuge and strength. Filipinos are known to be loving, heart-warming, joyful people. Through times of strife, we always manage to put a smile on our face. We're also known as God-fearing people. Offering our prayers would go a long way. Donations to various government agencies would also help. Let us offer service to our kababayans in any way we can. We may be complaining about petty matters, but people are fighting for their lives as we speak. This is a call to action, a call to do something, a call to help out. It's the least we can do to give back what we have.

Stay safe, everyone!

Credit to Inquirer for the photos

BOOKS: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour ☮

(The alternate covers of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson)

     Amy Curry had a special relationship with her father. They would go on road trips together, belting out lyrics to all of Elvis' greatest hits, while eating Life Savers on casual drives would be their special hobby. After her father passed away due to a tragic accident, her mother decides to move from California to Connecticut. Traumatized by the tragedy and vowed to never drive again, Amy's mom sends her childhood friend, Roger, to accompany her on the trip. Roger and Amy haven't seen each other since they were little, and awkward conversations ensue on the first part of the trip. As they spend more time with each other, these awkward conversations turn into meaningful understandings that eventually blossom into love. Through the journey, Amy gets back up after her father's death, finds herself, and falls in love in this light-hearted narrative. 

     This book was recommended to me by one of my best friends, and I've been hooked on this book ever since. She gave it to me before I left for the United States last summer, and I read bits and pieces of it throughout the whole trip. This novel was truly relatable, as I had been going on a road trip through California at the same time! Amy & Roger includes scraps and bits from each location they've been to. Facts about the state, specialty food, receipts, pictures, and little notes exchanged by the two main characters make the novel quirky and entertaining.

       What I love about this book is the way the characters express themselves and how they evolve throughout the journey. Amy is a shy, reserved girl, who doesn't want to express herself after her father's death. She's cautious about everything, and is on the pursuit of happiness. Roger, on the other hand, is a guy who wants to understand. He's sensitive, and his wit and humor eventually brings Amy out of her shell. The two clashing personalities collide, meshing together into a wonderful story of self-discovery.

       One thing unique about this book, aside from the scrap book infused between the pages, are the playlists! Amy and Roger take turns making their own mixtapes for the trip, and the creative titles are based on the states they are currently in, or inside jokes that only they can understand. It's a cute indirect way of describing how they relate to one another, as well as a useful way to have a feel of the story. The songs are amazing, and they make for great road trip playlists. 

Here are some of my favorites:


Roger Playlist #1: "'Leaving California'" aka 'Hitting the Road' aka 'Snacks are Important, But Not Quite as Important as Tunes'" 

• "Going to California" - Led Zeppelin
• "Drive Away My Heart" - Ida Maria
• "California in Popular Song" - The Lucksmiths
• "I See You" - Mika
• "Travel Song" - Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
• "Miss California" - Jack's Mannequin
• "The General Specific" - Band of Horses
• "I'm Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" - Billy Joel
• "Life in the Fast Lane" - Eagles
• "Birds of a Feather" - The Rosenbergs
• "Limelight" - Rush
• "All My Stars Aligned" - St. Vincent
• "Unhurried Heart" - Harlem Shakes
• "The Wild" - Princeton
• "I Stand Corrected" - Vampire Weekend
• "In California (Live)" - Neko Case
• "Nobody Lost, Nobody Found" - Cut Copy
• "Vanilla Twilight" - Owl City
• "Adrift" - Jack Johnson

Roger Playlist #5: "'No Place Like Home' or 'Why Won't Amy Buy Sunglasses?' or "The Sunflower State'" 

• "Where Is Home?" - Bloc Party
• "Jolene" - The Weepies
• "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (cover) - Call Me Kevin
• "Brand New Day" - Joshua Radin
• "Starlight" - Muse
• "Even Fairy Tale Characters Would be Jealous" - PlayRadioPlay!
• "Daylight" - Matt and Kim
• "The Dark in You" - Plushgun
• "100,000 Fireflies" - The Magnetic Fields
• "Wake Up" - The Secret Handshake
• "Dust in the Wind" - Kansas
• "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - Elton John
• "I'll Do the Driving" - Fountains of Wayne
• "Time After Time" (cover) - Quietdrive
• "Faith in Fast Cars" - The Format
• "Wonderful You" - The Dandy Warhols
• "Take a Chance on Me" - Erasure

Roger Playlist #7: "'Missouri-Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky' aka 'When will Amy be the DJ? WHEN?' aka '1500 miles on 400 dollars...'" (p. 207)

• "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" - Sufjan Stevens
• "Going Back to Indiana" - Jackson 5
• "The Trick to Life" - The Hoosiers
• "No More Runnin" - Animal Collective
• "Globes & Maps" - Something Corporate
• "All Hail the Heartbreaker" - The Spill Canvas
• "Old Flames" - Harlem Shakes
• "Don't Wake Me Up" - The Hush Sound
• "My Beautiful Rescue" - This Providence
• "Beating Heart Baby" - Head Automatica
• "Song in My Head" - Sherwood
• "Nightswimming" - R.E.M.
• "Ulysses" - Franz Ferdinand
• "Good Arms vs. Bad Arms" - Frightened Rabbit
• "Late in the Evening" - Paul Simon
• "After Hours" - Caribou
• "The Good Ones" - The Kills
• "Sunlight in a Jar" - The Lucksmiths
• "Where the Story Ends" - The Fray

     You can never leave a good book without remembering all the note-worthy quotes. Morgan Matson has a way of transforming words into intellectual ideas reflecting on life's greatest mysteries, as well as discovering your self-identity. Hope you get inspired by these wonderful quotes:

"The best discoveries always happened to the people who weren't looking for it."

"You've got to have pride in your home. You are where you're from. Otherwise, you're always going to be lost."

"Ad Astra Per Aspera, to the stars through adversity."

"We can't know what's going to happen. We can just try to figure it out as we go along."

     The reason why I am so attached to this book is because it's so relatable to me, especially since I read this while I was in the US last summer 2012. My family and I went on a road trip across California, all the way to Arizona and back. There were times when I would just sit in the car for 8 hours, staring at the scenery and admiring the history. It was an amazing time, being in a country unfamiliar to you, yet appreciating and understanding the sights around you. It reminded me of the book, since I took home many souvenirs, as well as photographs that I will treasure my whole life. Let me share with you some of the pictures I took of the places I visited!

(Credits to Jess Marquez for the photographs above)

     Such an amazing experience, and reading the book made me value the trip even more :) Get out, explore the world, be enriched by the culture, and strengthen relationships! It's all about the journey, not the destination.