Project: It’s More Fun In My Room!!!

This is it!!! My DIY room, I can’t say this project was cheap because (it’s not) most of the items are from Ikea (my love). We don’t have Ikea here in the Philippines so I had those items shipped from Singapore and it took about four big boxes – big meaning, each box stood 4 feet high while some are from my travels around Asia and Australia.

You must know that all the furniture that I shipped in was assembled by yours truly, LOL, and honestly I enjoyed every minute and scratch with it. Let’s start first with how it’s supposed to look like, with the use of Photoshop – you just have to use a bit of imagination to visualize it from my own perspective, LOL.

And there you go, a room using Ikea furniture, LOL. How do you find this design? Start drooling over it because that’s not how my room is going to look like! Far better, LOL! Are you ready? The renovation ended over 2 weeks ago but I couldn’t post any photographs because I was waiting for my best friend to take them for me. Yes, these photographs that you’re about to see were taken by my pregnant (with twins) best friend, Riz (who married my guy best friend, sweet, Huh?). She and my other best friend, Ivy – spent an afternoon of bonding that you will see later too.

So drumroll please!!! The final look of my new room, Simple and Better!

This room is about 3 meters X 3.5 meters, small but what can I say – small can be FANTASTIC! The walls are now in white and if you must know, the roller shade which I bought from Ikea was way too tall for the boxes I had shipped, so I had that check-in in my flight back home. Before I used curtains but I’m a changed woman – no more curtains for me! I sleep on a single bed, well I share this bed with my Chihuahua, Bambie and I decided to swap my bed frame from the spare bed we have and it turned out just nice.

Now let’s go through the details of where I got these pieces from. I have mentioned before how in-love I am with snow globes and a proof of that – here you will see a few of them. On top of my bed, I had asked my dad to drill for me this shelf which I just love!

• A: Big frame, shelf & holders and printed cloth behind are from Ikea. Snow globe was from a shop in Singapore named TYPO, the letter ‘M’, heart and human model are from the same shop. The framed butterfly, I got this from my trip in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.
• B: Side table, beddings, picture frame are from Ikea. The ‘LOVE’ word, coaster and magnetic tree are from TYPO. The owl was from a shop in Singapore named Odjectives. The lamp was a souvenir from Universal Studios Singapore. The kissing snow globe was my Beijing, China trip and the other snow globe was from Sydney, Australia. The camera I got it from eBay which I have not tried using yet but it kind of looks nice there already so i have no plans of using it anymore. The magnets are from my Bangkok, Thailand trip, oh those are hand crafted magnets, hihihi. The four-drawer small cabinet, I got it from my Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam trip, in those drawers you will find bracelets, headbands and other hair accessories.
• C: Twiggy the big dog was from Singapore and Lulu the blue Ugly Doll was a gift from Riz & Bud (from the US of A)

You are aware of how much I love photos right? Here you go, plenty of photographs. The framed photographs were from my trip in Sydney, Australia (taken with film cameras). Those frames took hours to be positioned, haha. Or maybe because I took my sweet time doing it.

• D: This is Riz & Bud, LOL – this photograph is from an instax camera (same concept with Polaroid).
• E: The photograph with my two buddies came from a Polaroid. The guitar magnet was from my sister, she bought it from Cebu, Philippines. The ‘quote card’ was from the wedding invitation of Riz & Bud.
• F: The desk, frames, lamp, sun accent (holding instax photographs) are all from Ikea.

These are the things you will see on my desk, aside from a laptop of course. After my Encounter with God I have decided to make a prayer calendar, I used a regular calendar and wrote the family names myself – nice right? What’s even nicer is how God answers our prayers, here are a few verses of His promises.

Mark 11:24

²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:14-16

¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

James 5:15-17

¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

• G: The small mannequin, I got this from my trip in Bangkok, Thailand. The shells and snow globe are from Singapore. The red platform is actually a heart-shaped wood – from TYPO.
• H: The calendar was a gift from my Auntie and the book or frame stand; I got this from an Artsy Craftsy shop in Singapore.

This side of the room was not fully shown here, it’s on the left side of my desk. This is the area where the TV, Cable and HDMI Player are located at. The shelves that you are seeing now, I drilled those myself and seriously my respect and love for carpenters and construction workers will never be the same again! I salute you all!!!

• I: Big frame, shelf & holders are from Ikea. The world map is actually a wrapping paper which looks nicer on a frame, don’t you think so?
• J: The red shelf is from Ikea. I just can’t have too many snow globes, Ey? The New York snow globe was a gift from Bud, the medium snow globe was from my Beijing, China trip and the small one was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• K: The green dog/reindeer was one of my souvenirs from Sydney, Australia and the wonderful globe was a gift from my good friend Glaiza (who lives in Singapore).
• L: The white book end and human model were from TYPO. The word ‘dream’ is locally made, I got it from a shop named Papemelroti. The ‘gong’ was from my trip in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam where I got 5 stars from bargaining! The snow globes were souvenirs from Singapore Zoo.

Here are more little details that made a big difference. Those hats that you see are actually at the back of my door that I painted with white too. The frame with a cage print is at the side of my cabinet.

• M: This sun accent is from Ikea and those photographs are from 3 different instax cameras and those faces are the people closest to my heart.
• N: This is a good way of displaying those hats and mostly for them not to lose form, instead of placing them inside your cabinets and then you start to forget about them, LOL.
• O: I got this frame from TYPO. Yes! I am a fan of that shop!
• P: This is what’s on my side table; the book end and Polaroid lamp (yes! That’s a lamp), I got those from TYPO, on sale! The round box is the packaging box of Crabtree & Evelyn, nice right? I actually bought perfumes and lotions because of the box.

Yes I heart wire works! I love them so much that I hand-carried those items from my travels. They are just very useful and great accent pieces too!

• Q: It’s a nice piece decoratively and it serves it purpose fully, I got this from Bangkok, Thailand.
• R: This heart wire accent is sort of a bulletin thingy, I got this from Berrima, Australia.

Here are a few more items that I purchased from Ikea that were not shown in the photographs. I especially heart the red file cabinet! When I saw this in Ikea, I just fell in love with it. And assembling it was just fun too! If only we have Ikea here – I probably would be there every week!

• S: I use this to store my shoes and sandals, I got rid of all the boxes and now they just look uniform and nicely stored.
• T: I’ve decided to use two of this instead of using a tall book shelf/cabinet, I use these to store my file folders in and it’s good to use when you don’t have so much space.
• U: You can laugh all you want but I bought this trash can because of its color!
• V: This file cabinet is probably my favourite purchase in Ikea.
• W: I have this beside my bed, I usually use this when I watch movies on my laptop, instead of using the side table that doesn’t have enough space for a laptop. And the best part with this, it’s movable and light in weight!

I re-painted all the walls with white and used red and black as accents. It’s simple but lively. I’ve always been fond of collecting things but now I still get to do that but I have used them as my accent pieces – I displayed only the key pieces, my sweet memorabilias from my travels and my loves. The most important thing to remember when designing for your bedroom, make sure that everything in it is what you love and you are comfortable with. And the best part with having a room that you love, you would want your friends to experience it too!!!

There now you’ve seen it all, it’s time to enjoy them! I love my room so much that I can actually stay in it for hours/days but of course sharing it with those you love is FUN too!!!

My friends since birth and our kids will be friends too, they won’t have a choice! LOL

Friends forever – mushiness. Oh, there’s Riz (the one in the middle) pregnant with twins!!! And there’s Ivy with the colorful stripes dress.

I enjoyed sharing my space with you and I’m sure you enjoyed my tour as well… because It’s More Fun In My Room! LOL

P.S.

Photographs were taken by my friend, Riz.

Up in the mountains of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Have you ever felt too much joy and happiness to the extent that you thought your heart was going to burst? This was my experience from my last trip. Cameron Highlands in Malaysia was my latest destination. I travelled with my best girls from Singapore, ate Noemi and ate Shirley. It was a 9-hour drive which wasn’t tiring at all, we just slept in the bus for 9 hours and when day light was greeting us good morning, it was just a few minutes away from our hotel. The road to Cameron Highlands was pretty tough though, it was up the mountains and it was zigzag all the way up but the view was just amazing!

Before anything else, let me tell you of our short but sweet dilemma on the night of our departure – our little adventure in Singapore, we almost didn’t make it to the bus station, ate Noemi and ate Shirley and me – bad combination when it comes to directions! We absolutely had no idea where we were and where we were going, oh and GPS, it confused us even more and that was just horrific! We finally got a cab which took us forever to get because that was a Friday night and I guess everyone was busy with their own thing, to add more stress to the situation, our cab driver dropped us off at the wrong building! Reliving that day is just F U N, LOL. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life!

When we finally got to the bus station, our faces were all flushed and we were just relieved that we did make it, LOL.

This was my first time to experience an overnight bus journey and I did enjoy it, the great thing about it was, I said goodnight to Singapore and woke up in Malaysia. Okay, you don’t have to get it, but it makes great sense in my own world, LOL.

We arrived in Cameron Highlands around 8.30 in the morning and had Adobo (Filipino dish) for brunch care of ate Shirley, yum yum yum!!! We then took a short nap, showered and off to our scheduled day tour!

Our first stop was at a Rose Farm, this farm though was not like the typical farms you’d see in the provinces/countryside. This farm was on the side of the mountain meaning it had different levels, which was pretty interesting too and the owners had put up some ceramic displays and paintings that matched perfectly with the flowers.

Next stop was the highlight of this trip!!! This was just breath-taking! The journey to the Tea Plantation was terrifying but at the same time exciting, terrifying because the road that we travelled going there was like one wrong turn and say hello to the cliff! The two girls were like praying for our lives and mostly our driver, LOL and while they were praying… my heart was just jumping for joy! It was such a great view up there! I was honestly scared too but with that view in-front of you, it just over powers everything else. It was like if that was the last thing you’d see before falling off the cliff (LOL), it would have been all worth it, haha!

When I was looking at this view my heart was just pounding really hard and the magnificence of it confuses your heart if you’re going to smile or cry. My jaw was just aching from too much smiling. And you just want to stare at it long enough to memorize each detail by heart. I never thought that there would come a time that every worry and negative thought you had in your mind can be swept off just like that. This was nature at its best, this was perfection.

This was my first time to see a tea plantation and it’s a memory to last forever. We also saw how they processed the leaves into the tea leaves/bags that we use. This event made the 9-hour drive all worth it!

After that wonderful experience, we them made our way to the Cactus Farm/Butterfly Farm. I did buy me a souvenir from this trip, I got me a preserved butterfly; which I will hang in my wall after I go back home (Philippines).

Most Filipinos would compare Cameron Highlands to Baguio (in the Philippines) but I think they are both great places to visit and they both have their own special things to offer. Maybe they are usually compared to each other because of the cold weather and numerous strawberry farms that they both have – which leads us to our next stop, Strawberry Farm! This was out of the ordinary planting, the plants were lifted on tables or planks which was all new to me.

We had a nice hot meal in the hotel, steam boat!!! We also had some desserts before going to bed… it was a great day indeed!!!

The next day, we had a heavy buffet breakfast! And after that, it was Singapore bound – we left Cameron Highlands at 10 am and arrived Singapore at around 8-ish pm.

In totality, this was a great trip! I had spent time with my girlies, our last trip together before ‘Sayonara’, and it was as always one of the bests. Travelling is at its best when you take it with your treasured friends. And a little countryside wouldn’t hurt at all! And to close this:

I sometimes close my eyes and imagine myself standing in the cliff that I once stood at… I feel the wind gliding back and forth my face and encourages me to raise my arms and embrace it just as much. It tells me that, ‘look at perfection it is yours to appreciate, treasure and love… it is your to take back a memory of and remember that when all else fail – there is perfection and beauty that hopes and awaits.

P.S.

Photos taken with Film Cameras

Malaysia, Truly Asia: Port Dickson R&R

Hello! Hello!! I just got back last night from my Cameron Highlands (Malaysia) trip, with the girls of course. It was an awesome trip but I’m not going to start blabbing about that trip yet. I’m still waiting for my prints and it will take about 3 days to process – meaning, I won’t be sharing about that trip today. But because I’m in such a great mood and my fingers are just itching to “type with purpose” (quote and quote from the movie Up in the Air – the movie was kind of a drag but I just loved it anyway!) here we go!

Weekend Escapade: Port Dickson, Malaysia – R&R Girl Bonding

My friend and I, let’s just call her Ate Noemi (not that it’s not her real name, LOL) decided to go on an Rest and Relaxation weekend – well I pushed her to tag along because I saw in an ad, a promo going to Port Dickson, Malaysia, an overnight stay in a fantastic beach resort! But the catch was – I must have a travel buddy with me. Okay fine, it was for honeymooners! That’s just a laugh right? And true enough, if you saw the chalet that we stayed at – it was to die for! So there, she was happy and excited to join me and I didn’t have to harass her just to say yes (LOL) and I didn’t have to use the ‘What are friends for’ line, haha!

Day 1

I didn’t do my research, all I knew back then was, there was going to be a beach and a swimming pool but as to how long the bus ride was going to be – ZERO knowledge, hehe. Or maybe I assumed it was an hour away from Singapore. But to our surprise, it took 3 hours for us to reach the resort. Oh by the way, this trip happened last October 2011 – okay going back… The 3 hours road trip didn’t turn out to be a drag because I was with Ate Noemi, it was time to catch up on some story telling about office moments and some other stuff too.

When we got to the resort… Ate Noemi was just shocked with how beautiful the resort was, Avillion Port Dickson and honestly I was shocked myself too. And when we got to our chalet, Ate Noemi just got on the bed and started jumping!!!

We had our garden view chalet upgraded to a water chalet – our chalet stood above the beach! Our bed was a four-poster bed and the room had a daybed and the shower room… it was a WOW! It had an open skies rain shower! It really was for honeymooners, haha!!!

After we got tired of all the WOWs and Waahs, we went for a stroll in the resort. We had an afternoon tea at a Restaurant that had walls made of glass… Yes, all the while we thought and OHs and AHs were done for the day, apparently it was just beginning, LOL! This Restaurant had a viewing area, it was at the edge of the restaurant where you can see the beach and all the other chalets. They served out snacks there and it was just so relaxing because of the ambiance and view.

We then made our way to the beach, the beach wasn’t that great. But of course we still enjoyed and explored it anyway. Even when I was younger when my family and I would visit our province in the Philippines, Zambales… together with my younger sister our older cousins would take us to the beach and we would just stay there for a few hours – I knew in my heart… sand on your feet, running against the water on the beach, allowing your skin get burned – that was just love for me. And up until now, it won’t matter what texture the sand has or what color it was… as long as there is water and sand, my heart always felt safe and my mind was just always renewed.

We also tried the water bike, if that is what it’s called, hehe. We also reserved for buffet dinner which after we took a quick deep in the pool, night swim. And took a short walk outside the resort and then called it a day. Ate Noemi got dibs on the HUMONGOUS bed and I preferred to stay in the daybed where I wanted to say goodnight to the wonderful view and greet the morning in such a sunny mood.

Day 2

When I woke up in the morning, I was so surprised with what I saw from the window. The water from the beach receded to the extent that as if it wasn’t a beach, LOL. It was such a nice view to wake up in.

Breakfast of course was fattening, haha, after we went back to our room and enjoyed our extravagant room for the last time.

Before we head on for the 3-hour drive again, we took a late lunch at the glass restaurant (I named it the glass restaurant) and that was that.

It was a great break from city life as we call it. Sometimes taking a break from our computers and cell phones will do us good too, it allows your mind to reboot and to just take time in breathing. Damage to your pocket? Taking time off to Rest and Relax is never considered a damage but an investment.

I hope you had a great weekend too.

~from Film Cameras

Hello March!

Hello March!!!  It’s been awhile and I’ve missed you so!  I think it’s best to celebrate our reunion with one quick, fun and memorable trip.

Weekend Escapade: Cameron Highlands, Malaysia with my Singapore Girls

My bags were packed by someone who was very confused with what to wear in a place called Cameron Highlands but that’s okay, as long as my cameras are loaded with films, we are good to go!  The girls and I have been planning for a trip for the longest time, since late last year!  We all wanted to go on a last trip, before I go back home (Philippines) but it never did push through – until … TONIGHT!!!

My girls and I will be taking a long bus ride – which I think we take about 7 hours of road trip, it will probably be 7am when we reach our destination.

I will keep you posted about our trip after the films are developed.  Also, remember I have told you that I had plans in going to Bali, Indonesia – it’s booked!!!  2 more weeks and I’m off to Bali!  For now let’s make ourselves drool over what Bali has to offer.

March, you and I are gonna have the best time this year!!!

P.S.

Photo from my Instagram