Skywatch Friday At Beihai Park

taken at Beihai Park in Beijing China

I wish we had huge parks like this in Manila! I'm sure I would spend some afternoons reading a book by the lake.

My World Likes Lamps

taken at Resorts World

Last Saturday, the boyfie and I checked out Resorts World, this relatively new casino that's located near the airport. I'm not a big gambler, I don't like risking my hard earned money so that was actually only my second time to ever enter a casino. We gave ourselves a budget of P500 ($12) to spend and we were only going to play the slot machines. I'm sure all you veteran casino lovers will say "what?! that's nothing!" but I really couldn't bear to part with more money especially now that I still don't have a regular cash flow. So anyway, we stuck to only the slot machines coz we both don't play poker and are not confident of our black jack skills! I must admit it was fun while it lasted... which was only 5 minutes. I lost P400 in 5 minutes! Since we can't take pictures in casinos, I took a picture of the pretty lamps in the restaurant of the casino. Wouldn't you love to have those in your room? I took this using my iPhone's lomo app.  

Find What You Love

taken at Beihai Park in Beijing, China

Read a part of Steve Jobs' Commencement Address for Stanford University back in June 2005, really reminds me that I made the right decision of going for my dream.

 Sometimes life hits you on the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only things that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.

As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle. 

 

Classic Toys

Taken at the art district of Beijing, China

I saw these toys being sold along the sidewalk of the art district in Beijing and I just loved these vintage toys!! My favorite was the van with the surfboards on top.

You Choose Your Own Path

taken at Beihai Park in Beijing, China

We don't always know what path life will lead us which can be pretty scary. Last year was a year of soul searching for me. I was going through the quarter-life crisis and it was NOT fun. I didn't know if I wanted to stay in advertising because I felt I wasn't going to get financial freedom there. I had fun in the industry but I was slowly getting tired of the job description. I was an account manager, aka client's slave. I was also playing around with the idea of taking my MBA in NYU but then I realized it wouldn't benefit me anyway. They say that in the world of advertising, 2 years of experience is much better than 2 years of taking an MBA. Plus I was considering it for all the wrong reasons - I was looking for an excuse to live in another country for awhile. I wanted to experience independence in a different country. I always knew that I wanted to get into entrepreneurship so that when I have my own family in the future, I would have my own business where I have more control of my time and still contribute to the family income. I don't want to rely on my future husband for everything! I want to make something of myself too. I am woman, hear me roar! 

So it became clear to me that I wanted to go entrepreneurship... but what business was I going to get in to? 3 years ago, I borrowed money from my parents to put up a franchise of a fruit shake kiosk. I never really spent any time taking care of it and my crew probably stole money from me but I just wasn't interested. I realized that I had an opportunity right there and it would be a waste if I didn't make the most of it. Another was Baila!, a dance studio I have been going to since 2003. I came on as a partner in 2007 but never was active in it. Actually, most of the partners weren't so since no one was paying any attention to it, of course the studio wasn't making much money. That was another opportunity right there! I love that studio and felt there was so much potential and it would be a shame for it to close.

That sealed the deal. I had 2 businesses when I left my job last March 31. Right now, I'm also working on a business which will launch in August, so watch out for that! I like the path I'm on. I still have a lot of things to work to get to my financial freedom but I know I'll get there. :) 

Posters

taken at the art district in Beijing, China

Posters were up all over the art district, unfortunately, I had no idea what they were announcing. I also decided to make my photos bigger in my entry... something i obviously should have done from the start!

I've been pretty busy nowadays. Since I left my corporate job in advertising,  I was a little worried I would get bored or I wouldn't be motivated to really work on my businesses. I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm keeping myself really really busy. It's actually pretty tough juggling marketing our dance studio, setting up another business with my friend and running the franchise I got of a fruit shake stand. What really gets me moving on all these is the fact that the money I have in my bank account is slooooowly getting smaller. I know I HAVE to make money because if not... well we know all know where that would lead! 

I get asked how is the "lady of leisure" and seriously, I am far from that. Leisure is not the word I would choose to describe my life right now. Busy, hectic and tiring would be a few. But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's especially exciting for me to be putting up my own thing. I know all the hard work will go somewhere and it will directly benefit me, not a company. 

I realized another thing that I want to put on my vision board. When I'm all successful, I want to become a consultant for start up businesses. I want to be able to help aspiring entrepreneurs such as myself. In the whole process of starting up a business, I realized also that I love marketing. Its my favorite part of businesses! Oh and I want to support an organization such as WWF or PETA. The environment has no voice and can't ask us for help. We need to be the ones to take the initiative to protect them.  

Here's to you lil bro

taken at Beijing, China

Growing up, my brother and I were constantly fighting. The times that we weren't playing together, we were fighting. I guess it came with the 5-year age gap we have but once my brother was in high school and I was in college, things changed and we finally got along. I have to admit, I'm a very protective older sister but he's 22 now so I better start letting him make his own mistakes because really, its the only way he'll learn.

So happy birthday Paolo, my one and only favorite brother in the whole wide world! Have a great 22nd birthday. Love your big sister.

Orange Bursts

taken at Beijing, China

One can't help but smile when you see a bunch of pretty flowers... I know I can't.  :)

Skywatch Friday Is At The Great Wall

taken at the Great Wall of China

It was pretty hazy when we were at the Great Wall but it still didn't make a difference, the Wall was AMAZING!

Bricks

taken at the Beijing Art District

My World Saw A Floating Head

taken at Mimi's house

This statue has an eerie yet elegant feel to it. Love how the light just plays up the drama even more!

Brown Girl Dancing

taken at Beijing's Art District

This little piece of art caught my eye. She has such character!

Step By Step

taken at Beijing, China

It was a looooong way up!

Lunch Break

taken at Greenbelt 5

Took this picture of my ex-officemates on my last day of work. I miss those guys! My team was the reason I stayed as long as I did. They're awesome. :)

Lovers At The Park

taken at Beihai Park in Beijing, China

I love how this could look like an old picture from back in the day. One of the things I really enjoyed doing in Beijing was walk around this park and the Summer Palace. It's really a place where you can just sit on a bench and read while enjoying the sunny day. 

My World Loves Thai Food

taken at Chariya Thai Restaurant

My boyfriend works in sales for a food company so he discovers all these hidden gems of a restaurant all over the city. It's so fun to explore hole in the wall restaurants that really offer valur for your money. One of our favorites is this little hole in the wall restaurant along Nicanor Garcia street in Makati City where they serve really really good Thai food. It has only about 10 tables and has no aircon but the food is sooooo worth it! Servings are big and the price, super affordable. You can have a meal for two for just P200 ($5) and still have food to take home! This shot is of the simple decor on the wall which adds to its charm. I used Jellybean (my Holga) and used Fuji Provia. 

Oh, the baby shower was a success! We had so much fun, especially with the baby charades... I swear, charades is a no fail game! So much fun. :) I can't wait for my friend to give birth. She's due end of August but she has a feeling it will be sooner than that.

Colored Cows

taken at Beijing, China

One of my favorite spots in Beijing was the art district. There were so many quirky sculptures and paintings everywhere! You could spend the whole day just going through the stores filled with all sort of knick knacks and whatnot. Then when you get tired, you can stop at a coffee shop and admire more art in the area. I went all trigger happy over there! I'll definitely be posting more pictures from that area soon. 

On other news, I'm taking break from cramming the games for my friend's baby shower tonight! I just finished my "who's your daddy (or mommy)" deck wherein i'm going to flash pictures of babies then they have to guess who is their celebrity mom or dad. Now I'm brainstorming for charades... I need things related to babies so they can act it out later! My friend is due to give birth in October and I can't wait! This will be the first baby in our circle of friends... for sure that baby boy will be very very very spoiled!

View from the Great Wall

taken at the Great Wall of China

I finally had my rolls of film developed and I got them yesterday! Woot woot! It was kinda cloudy during my trip there so some of the shots from my Vivitar came out pretty dark, which I expected but others came out awesome! Time for some lomo, luvin'!

Last May, I was able to cross off "walk along the Great Wall of China" from my bucket list. It was an amaaaazing experience! We climbed up a gazillion steps and we took a lot of breaks in between. I took this photo at the point we decided that was as high as we would go. My dad said if we didn't start going down, we might be late for the tour (or maybe we were all just making excuses to stop going up hehe). I can only imagine what it was like for the Chinese who would be on the look out at night during winter! It must have been freezing!!! And it doesn't help that you have to go down all those steps after your shift was over. But I really suggest that you go see the Great Wall!

Camouflage

taken at Beijing, China

I'm not sure why the bark of the tree ended up looking like this but it reminds me of those camouflage prints! Anyone know why the bark looks like this?

On other very girly news, Forever 21 is opening in the Philippines for the first time today! The first 250 customers to line up in front of their store will immediately get a P200 ($5) discount card. I decided not to go today because chaos is not conducive to shopping! I'll probably pass by next week when there aren't as many people. I've seen a lot of teaser photos and the store is massive!! I can't wait to check it out :)

Look Up!

taken at Beijing, China

When in Beijing, don't forget to look up. Even the ceilings are full of art!